October 29, 2024
According to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), greenhouse gas levels surged to a new record in 2023, committing the planet to rising temperatures for many years to come. Carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulates in the atmosphere faster than ever experienced during human existence, increasing by more than 10% in just two decades. “This […]
October 29, 2024
Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo has provided further details on the planned savings in the Volkswagen Group ahead of the next round of negotiations. The Board of Management allegedly wants to close up to three plants, downsize all others, divest core areas, and implement massive salary cuts. This would also affect electric car production. “This […]
October 28, 2024
According to sector federation Febiac, the market share of pure electric cars in Belgium and Luxembourg is still growing. During the first nine months of this year, 27% of registrations were purely electric, a 7.4% increase compared to 2023. Of course, the most significant factor in this positive electric result is the company car segment, […]
October 25, 2024
Scout Motors, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, has unveiled two new flagship electric off-roaders for the US market. The SUV Traveler and its pickup counterpart, the Terra, sit on the same electric body-on-frame platform, providing up to 350 miles (563 km) of range. A range-extender option brings that range to up to 800 km. Both […]
October 25, 2024
Tesla surprised investors and analysts by posting bigger-than-expected profits for the third quarter of 2024. Though the EV maker boosted deliveries in the past three months, the money comes from unexpected income like CO2 credits, cost cutting, and “services and others.” Interestingly, Elon Musk never favored the latter as an important revenue stream. Tesla exceeded […]
October 25, 2024
Chinese CATL, the world’s biggest battery maker, has presented a new type of battery for extended range (EREV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) to cure the prevalent ‘range anxiety’ of people reluctant to go fully electric. It promises a CLTC range of 400 km and 4C fast charging or 280 km in 10 minutes. The company […]
October 24, 2024
According to a new survey by mobility organization Touring, more than one in three Belgian drivers (34%) are often blinded by oncoming traffic. A fifth of them say this causes them stress and 18% even avoid driving in the dark. On the other hand, it appears that one in five vehicles has some defect in […]
October 24, 2024
Is lithium the new gold mine for Arkansas after oil? Researchers have discovered that an underground brine reservoir in the southern US state may contain as much as 5 to 19 million tons of lithium. Lithium is a crucial raw material for electric vehicle batteries. The amount of lithium in the Arkansas beds would be […]
October 24, 2024
Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO and boss of the world’s sixth-biggest car company, with 177.000 people working for him, made a striking confession: He has been driving a Chinese Xiaomi SU7 fully electric car around Detroit for the last six months and doesn’t want to give it up. “It’s fantastic and is made by a smartphone […]
October 24, 2024
The cost of the Princess Elisabeth energy island, an artificial island off the Belgian coast that will be used by the power grid operator Elia, will probably amount to 7 billion euros, a multiple of the 2,2 billion that was initially estimated. Princess Elisabeth Island will become an energy hub for cables to neighboring countries […]
October 23, 2024
Germany will build a nationwide 9,040 km hydrogen network connecting various industrial areas. In the long term, a future Dutch hydrogen network will also be linked to it. German regulators have approved the construction of the network, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck announced on Tuesday. Hydrogen should be used in sectors where renewable energy, such as […]
October 23, 2024
The all-electric Renault 5 e-tech and the Alpine A290 are the first Renault vehicles equipped with a bidirectional charger capable of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). They were launched with the promise of allowing the owner to earn back some money by delivering electricity from the car to the network. And now, France is the first European country […]
October 23, 2024
The Swiss manufacturer Softcar has unveiled a lightweight L7e electric car with four seats. It weighs 640 kilograms, including the battery, and is said to have a range of 200 kilometers. Prices start from €23,000. All vehicles in the L7e class have one thing in common: they can travel at a maximum speed of 90 […]
October 22, 2024
According to a new study by the green group Transport & Environment (T&E), subsidies for gasoline and diesel company cars cost taxpayers €42 billion every year in the five biggest EU countries alone. The study by ERM, commissioned by T&E, calculates the effects of the four tax benefits traditionally given to company cars: benefit-in-kind, depreciation […]
October 22, 2024
The European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) data show that in September 2024, new EU car registrations continued their downward trajectory (-6.1%), with negative results across three of the region’s four major markets. France declined by -11.1%, Italy by -10.7%, and the German market regressed by 7%. On the other hand, Spain experienced a rebound (+6.3%). […]
October 18, 2024
Chery Automobile, China’s fifth-biggest automaker with over 1.88 million vehicles sold worldwide last year, says it will take on Belgium from January 2025 with two models: the Omoda 5 EV and the Jaecoo 7 PHEV. While the brand awaits the Brussels Motor Show for an official launch, we could already take the Omoda 5 EV, […]
October 18, 2024
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse’s latest stance against the sales ban on combustion-engined cars by 2035 might reignite the discussion surrounding a political revision on the EU level. According to the top executive, keeping the combustion engine running is the best remedy for remaining competitive in the face of mounting Chinese competition. President of the European […]
October 18, 2024
The Dutch mobility organization ANWB has studied the charging habits of its members all across Europe this summer. They researched the data of their members’ charging passes (ANWB laadpas), which have been charged 63,000 times abroad this summer. Most charging sessions were in France (24,615), Germany (17,202), Belgium (5,179), and Italy (4,278). Still, some Dutchmen […]
October 16, 2024
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has published a study on the CO2 reduction requirements of the ten largest car manufacturers to comply with the EU’s fleet limits for 2025. On average, manufacturers must increase their BEV share by a maximum of twelve percentage points, from 16% in 2023 to around 28% by 2025. […]
October 16, 2024
SAIC, the mother company of the now Chinese MG brand, has unwrapped the fully electric MG ES5, a compact SUV, likely to succeed in the current very popular MG ZS EV. This one is 153 mm longer and 40 mm wider but stands around 4 mm lower on its wheels than the outgoing car. Although […]
October 16, 2024
Stellantis brand Citroën presented the upcoming C5 Aircross as a concept car at the Paris Motor Show. The carmaker will also launch it with a purely electric drive. The revised ë-C4 and ë-C4 X were also on display. The C5 Aircross Concept shown in Paris features several design elements common to show cars of this […]
October 16, 2024
BYD, which originated in battery manufacturing and is now China’s biggest carmaker, is launching an eighth European model at the Paris Motor Show, the Sealion 7. This coupé-like crossover, again targeted to compete with the best-selling Tesla Y, will arrive during Q4 of 2024. The Sealion 07 EV was launched in May of this year […]
October 15, 2024
It’s finally here: the long-awaited fully electric Lynk & Co 02 for Europe. You can buy or lease it for a competitive price compared to its siblings, the Volvo EX30, Smart #1, or the Zeekr X, starting at €35,495. Sharing is natural for a brand that wants to redefine car ownership, but there is no […]
October 14, 2024
Citroën has introduced a refreshed version of the Ami microcar at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, marking the vehicle’s fourth anniversary with notable design updates and a new buggy concept. The updated Ami, known for its quirky style and high accessibility to youngsters, now boasts a “more sympathetic and mature” front design, restyled to pay […]
October 14, 2024
MINI uses the setting of the Paris Motor Show to boost the MINI Cooper Electric and MINI Aceman models with up to 190 kW (258 hp) John Cooper Works variants. With the same 54.2 kWh battery, the MINI John Cooper Works Electric gets a range of up to 371 kilometers (WLTP), and the MINI John […]
October 11, 2024
As of now, the Stellantis group is definitely and officially in search of a new CEO. Its creator and current CEO, Carlos Tavares, will end his mandate in early 2026, and it will not be renewed. Meanwhile, the current boss has reshuffled his management in the wake of the group’s receding sales and profit figures […]
October 11, 2024
On Thursday night, it was show time again for Elon Musk in an appropriate setting: the artificial city of Warner Brothers’ studio lot in Los Angeles. Here, he could safely unleash a fleet of twenty fully autonomous two-seater Cybercabs and add a ‘one more thing’ surprise, the 20-seater Robovan. The whole thing was submerged in […]
October 11, 2024
The BMW Group increased its deliveries of all-electric vehicles in the third quarter by 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Across all BMW brands, the manufacturer delivered a total of 103,440 electric vehicles. In total, for the first nine months of 2024, BMW Group delivered 1,754,158 units, 4.5% less than the year. “This […]
October 11, 2024
Renault will publicly unveil the Mobilize Duo or the next-generation Twizy at the Paris Motor Show. Like its spiritual forefather, it’s also available in a cargo version dubbed Bento. As cities worldwide strive for cleaner air and reduced traffic congestion, these two compact yet versatile electric vehicles want to earmark the future of city transportation […]
October 10, 2024
In seven years, Volvo Cars’ factory in Ghent, Belgium, has produced one million XC40s (and derivatives). The car was Volvo’s first compact premium SUV and also became the first EV for the Swedes with a fully electric version. In 2025, it will be joined by Volvo’s latest small EV to date, the EX30, which is […]
October 10, 2024
A new report by an international team of scientists – 15,000 scientists from 150 countries – states that climatic conditions have worsened. The report shows twenty-five of thirty-five planetary vital signs are at record extremes. For example, greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, the world is using more oil and coal, and oceans are becoming […]
October 09, 2024
According to figures from Korean consultancy firm SNE Research, from January to July 2024, batteries for electric vehicles (EV, PHEV, HEV) registered worldwide represented approximately 510.1 GWh of energy, a 21.7% growth compared to the year before. China’s biggest battery cell makers, CATL, with a market share of 37.1%, and BYD, with 16.4%, strengthened their […]
October 08, 2024
Last Friday, the 27 EU member states voted on the Commission’s proposal to seriously increase the import tariffs on EVs produced in China. We already commented on this last week. Meanwhile, the Chinese have reacted, and the NGO T&E has commented interestingly. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has opposed the European Union’s additional tariffs on […]
October 07, 2024
The Brussels parliament has postponed for two years the tightening of the Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) on January 1st, 2025. The Liberals, PS, Les Engagés, Team Fouad Ahidar, and Vlaams Belang voted in favor; the Greens and DéFi against, while Vooruit, N-VA, and CD&V abstained. Urban movement BRAL calculated that postponing the ban on the most […]
October 07, 2024
Are EV sales slowing down to near a standstill? Not in Belgium. Despite prevalent perception, EV sales are still soaring, with 96.233 new registrations in the first nine months of 2024, more than in the whole of 2023 (93,180). The same goes for second-hand EVs, 16,004 (January – September 2024) compared to 12,594 all year […]
October 01, 2024
It’s finally on sale in Europe, the MG everyone is waiting to revive the image of the iconic roadsters from its British heritage: the fully electric Cyberster. The basic 2WD version can be ordered in Belgium for €65,490, and the most potent, 4WD GT version, featuring 375 kW (510 pk), starts at €69.990. 47 pre-orders […]
September 27, 2024
Belgium’s automotive market outperforms most European markets in reducing CO₂ emissions from new cars. According to Febiac and the European Environment Agency data, Newspaper De Tijd reports that the average emissions from new cars in Belgium decreased by over 40% between 2019 and 2023. This is significantly better than the EU average reduction of 27%, […]
September 27, 2024
The Dutch non-profit research organization TNO (Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek) survey shows that 48% of potential second-hand car buyers prefer an EV. The survey asked 1,512 respondents which type of car they would buy on the second-hand market in the five years to come. Almost half (48%) preferred an electric car, and 59% thought it feasible […]
September 26, 2024
The tightening of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in Brussels will most likely be postponed from 2025 to 2027. The proposal of an ordinance to this effect by MR, PS, Les Engagés, and Open Vld was approved on Wednesday in the Environment Committee of the Brussels Parliament. The Brussels Parliament’s plenary session on October 4th must […]
September 26, 2024
According to the mobility organization Touring, the average EV driver in Belgium is highly educated, has a higher-than-average income, and has a private parking spot for his car. Touring has realized the latest European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) survey in Belgium in cooperation with the Brussels VUB University and interrogated 1,356 Belgian drivers. 96 of […]
September 26, 2024
According to electricity provider Elia, electricity demand will only increase over the next 25 years. Cars will run on batteries, industrial processes will run on electricity, and we’ll heat our homes with heat pumps. Elia, therefore, wants the new government to make decisions about new investments in power supply and the future energy mix because […]
September 24, 2024
The Flemish mobility organization VAB will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, at September 30. On the occasion of its centenary, the organization will also have a new slogan: “VAB, daar kom je verder mee” (VAB will take you further). Over the past century, the organization has grown into a company that offers driving lessons, […]
September 24, 2024
In the first eight months of this year, China exported 4.09 million vehicles worldwide, with Russia (705,514 units) as its biggest export market. Belgium ranks fifth with 182,504 cars. However, when the Chinese Customs data are broken down to figures for NEVs only (New Energy Vehicles, as China calls electrified cars), Belgium tops the world […]
September 24, 2024
August was a turbulent month for the European automotive market, with notable winners and losers among car manufacturers. Overall, vehicle sales dropped by 17%, as reported by Dataforce, but a few brands managed to defy the trend with impressive gains. Volvo’s soon-to-be-built-in Ghent EX30 continues its winning streak, while Chinese newcomer Omoda outperforms established names […]
September 23, 2024
After 40 years, Volkswagen is no longer building Polo models in Europe. VW has ended its Polo production in Europe as it shifts its focus to smaller, more affordable EVs. Volkswagen has been building Polo models in Pamplona, Spain, since 1984. Over 8.4 million Polos have been assembled at the Pamplona plant as one of […]
September 23, 2024
The official launch of Smart’s biggest model, the #5, is planned for the end of October, but in China, pre-ordering opened a few days ago at a price of 245,000 yuan, or some 31,200 euros. The #5 was previously tipped to the European market in 2025, costing around €40,000. Still, the possible imposition of new […]
September 20, 2024
Last year, Febelauto, the management body for waste vehicles and industrial batteries, collected almost 150 tons of high-voltage batteries from electric and hybrid cars—or 10% more than in 2022. That number will continue to rise because the number of electrified vehicles brought to market will increase exponentially. All European vehicle manufacturers are legally obligated to […]
September 20, 2024
Electric carmaker NIO has officially launched its ‘affordable’ Onvo brand in China with the L60 crossover, a Tesla Y competitor offered at an incredibly lower price of 149,900 yuan, or some 19,050 euros. That’s without the swappable battery, which is rented under the Battery as a Service (BaaS) option. The 60 kWh battery pack offering […]
September 20, 2024
The European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) calls for urgent action regarding the EU’s CO2 emission regulations “as demand for EVs declines”. On the other hand, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares again declares that relaxation would be wrong: “My guys are ready to fight.” He gets support from an unexpected side: BMW also says it plans to […]
September 20, 2024
According to the Flemish newspaper De Tijd, the Chinese car manufacturer Nio could be one of the candidates interested in taking over the Audi Brussels plant. However, NIO boss and founder William Li denies this. BYD is also rumored to be an interested party, and Belgium VW importer D’Ieteren which initially owned the factory before […]
September 19, 2024
Newmobility.news reported before that Danish car subscription start-up :Dribe is ogling Belgium to export its fully digital platform to the rest of Europe. Now, the Danish say about one in five (18%) Belgians would consider a car subscription instead of ownership. The latter might have been spurred by the success of Swedish-Chinese Lynk & Co […]
September 19, 2024
Norway has reached the predicted watershed moment, with more electric cars than gasoline vehicles being driven daily. The breakthrough came earlier than expected but follows a month of a record market share of EV registrations. However, diesel vehicles still account for the largest share at approximately 35%. The tip-over was around the corner, as we […]
September 17, 2024
After reducing its stake in 2021, Mercedes-Benz has now completely exited Denza. This marks the end of a fairly long-standing German-Chinese partnership: in 2011, Daimler and the Chinese car manufacturer BYD founded the joint venture Denza to jointly produce low-cost cars for the Chinese market. The Mercedes-Benz Group is no longer involved in the Chinese […]
September 17, 2024
According to an NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis, electric cars are expected to reach a 24% European market share as carmakers grow EV sales to meet the EU CO2 targets. “Car manufacturers have clear pathways to meet their EU climate targets next year due to the expected rapid growth in electric car sales,” says […]
September 17, 2024
At the IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover, Hyundai launched the first vehicle from its global eLCV platform for European markets in partnership with the Italian multinational transport vehicle manufacturer, IVECO. The Iveco eMoovy combines Hyundai’s EV chassis-cab-based 800-volt platform with a cargo compartment from Iveco. The Italian manufacturer of LCVs and trucks, Iveco and Hyundai, […]
September 16, 2024
Volkswagen has launched its newest Transporter model ahead of the IAA Transportation event, showcasing a van that shares much of its DNA with the Ford Transit. Despite this collaboration, Volkswagen has emphasized that the new Transporter maintains its distinct character, reflecting the brand’s rich legacy while advancing into the electrified vehicle market. The new Transporter, […]
September 16, 2024
In China, details of the new Lynk & Co Z20 have prematurely leaked through the Ministry of Industry. The launch should be in Europe in October and in China at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. This fully electric model is presumed to come to Europe as the Lynk & Co 02, as a second […]
September 16, 2024
In response to the (unofficial) ACEA proposal to the European Commission to delay the 2025 emission targets for two years, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares said, “It would be surreal to change the rules now.” “Everyone has known about the rules for a long time and has had time to prepare, and so now it’s time […]
September 13, 2024
According to a new study by research firm Transport&Mobility Leuven (TML), the Belgian bicycle economy is worth nearly a billion euros and has experienced growth of some 90% over the past eight years. Along with the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, Belgium is one of the largest cycling countries in the world. Many car manufacturers see […]
September 13, 2024
Chinese carmakers making inroads with car factories in West Europe are met with warnings from their home administration. Beijing fears technical know-how drainage and a “wrong” reward over import tariffs, so domestic car brands are asked for caution. Despite these flagging signals, BYD will continue constructing its EV plant in Turkey. Beijing has warned its […]
