December 17, 2025
In the short term, Europe’s car industry gains breathing space. In the longer term, Europe’s climate policy and electric-mobility leadership risk losing clarity and momentum, despite mounting evidence that the electric car is already the technologically and economically superior option. That is the uncomfortable trade-off at the heart of the European Commission’s new automotive action […]
December 17, 2025
Ford Motor Co. is drastically scaling back its electric vehicle plans and refocusing its U.S. manufacturing footprint on hybrid and gasoline vehicles to reduce losses from an EV market that never developed the way it envisioned. Ford has announced a comprehensive realignment of its electric vehicle business—primarily focused on North America. Production of the F-150 […]
December 17, 2025
The European Commission has presented as expected on Tuesday its broad Automotive Action Plan aimed at supporting the competitiveness of Europe’s car industry while maintaining the EU’s long-term climate objectives. Central to the proposal is a revision of the framework governing CO₂ emissions from new cars and vans after 2035, combined with industrial support measures […]
December 16, 2025
Renault has put a number on its promise to democratise electric city cars. As promised, the new Twingo E-Tech Electric starts at €19,500 in Belgium, making it one of the very few fully electric cars from a mainstream European brand to slip under the symbolic €20,000 threshold. And that, more than any design cue or technical […]
December 16, 2025
According to a newly released statement from Smart Europe, the fully electric #2, to be launched at the end of 2026, has entered an intensive real-world validation phase on its entirely new Electric Compact Architecture (ECA). The #2, expected to become the spiritual successor to the original Smart Fortwo, arrives at a moment when the […]
December 12, 2025
According to organizer Febiac, the Brussels Motor Show 2026 is alive and kicking. This 102nd edition will feature a record number of participating exhibitors (64), while two-wheelers are back again, with an additional 28 exhibiting companies. Frank Van Gool, CEO at the sector federation Febiac: “Records are always lovely for statistics, but to me it’s […]
December 12, 2025
Europe will no longer hold on to its long-promised ban on new registrations of gasoline and diesel cars as of 2035. The Commission has settled for a rewrite, now demanding that the average vehicle sold will be obliged to emit 90% less CO2 after that deadline. Pitched as a measure to safeguard jobs in the […]
December 11, 2025
De Lijn is expanding its e-bus fleet with another 350 vehicles from BYD and Daimler. The BYD buses are the last of a 2023 framework agreement for 500 e-buses, which sparked criticism from Belgian stakeholders for not selecting local bus manufacturers VDL and Van Hool, both of which have since gone bankrupt. The first BYD […]
December 11, 2025
Last week, President Donald Trump’s administration proposed loosening federal fuel-economy standards, giving automakers a reprieve from stringent emissions rules and prompting some analysts and environmental organizations to say the change could mean the return of the gas-guzzler. Trump and Department of Transportation officials said automakers might now be required to meet an average of 34.5 […]
December 10, 2025
The Supervisory Board of BMW has decided on the successor to CEO Oliver Zipse: At the Annual General Meeting in May 2026, current Production Board Member Milan Nedeljković (56) will take over as Chairman of the Board in Munich. BMW had already made an exception to its internal age rule for Zipse. In 2023, the […]
December 09, 2025
Renault Group and Ford form a strategic partnership for passenger and commercial vehicles, starting with two affordable electric cars in Europe. The companies have signed a partnership agreement to develop two Ford-branded passenger electric vehicles based on Renault Group’s Ampere platform. Additionally, the companies will explore the opportunity to collaborate in the commercial vehicle segment […]
December 09, 2025
When Chinese battery giant CATL announced last week that fully electric vessels capable of open-ocean voyages could be commercially viable within three years, the claim sent a jolt through the maritime world. Batteries have already reshaped personal mobility and are rapidly gaining ground in Europe’s leisure boating market, but scaling them to the demands of […]
December 08, 2025
The charging infrastructure in Europe will increase from approximately 12.2 million charging points to around 35.4 million by 2030. That means almost a threefold increase over five years. This is according to a recent report compiled by the consulting firm Ricardo on behalf of the European division of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). A large […]
December 08, 2025
According to a recent study by the Belgian road safety institute Vias, there really is an “affective polarization” in traffic ─ negative feelings and hostility ─ between different groups of road users. People clearly rate their own group more positively than others, with particularly negative feelings toward e-scooters and cyclists. In an urban context, these tensions […]
December 05, 2025
For the 39th edition of the Family Car election by Flemish mobility club VAB, the participating journalists and VAB members could choose from two pricing categories. In the past, there was a third category for electric cars, but it has since been abolished as more affordable BEVs have entered the market. This year, (partial) electrification […]
December 05, 2025
There is an EU agreement for a system like the Belgian Car-Pass, at least if it is up to the European transport ministers. With this initiative, Europe aims to tackle odometer fraud in second-hand vehicles across the European Union. The mandatory registration system is primarily based on the operating principles of the Belgian Car-Pass, a […]
December 05, 2025
Despite the (mostly German) carmakers’ lobbying to hit the brakes and give ICE another chance, Europe’s electric-vehicle landscape is shifting fast, and a new analysis from TradingPedia offers an unusually detailed snapshot of which brands and models are winning the race in 2025. TradingPedia, a Bulgarian financial analysis platform that frequently works with industry datasets, […]
December 04, 2025
Jaguar Land Rover’s design chief, Gerry McGovern, has left the automaker amid a shakeup instigated by the new CEO, P.B. Balaji. McGovern was fired and “escorted out of the office,” Autocar India reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation inside JLR’s Indian parent company, Tata Motors. JLR declined to comment when contacted. McGovern, 69, […]
December 04, 2025
Poppy, the D’Ieteren-owned mobility provider with its iconic red cars, is today launching Poppy Lease, a 100% digital, flexible offering for Belgian private individuals and the self-employed. The project actually started three years ago under the name MyPop as a test phase. Belgium lags far behind its neighbours in private leasing. A study by Renta, […]
December 04, 2025
As already assumed earlier, the Board of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has re-elected Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, for a second term as ACEA President in 2026. Källenius is also setting the tone for his second year at the helm of the association: Competitiveness and market-driven decarbonisation high on agenda,” states the headline […]
December 04, 2025
To stabilize its shrinking European market share, Ford plans to leverage its most rugged American model. The carmaker is preparing to launch a Europe-exclusive version of the Bronco in 2027, but it will not feature a purely electric driveline. And don’t expect a rival for the upcoming small G-Class and baby Defender. Ford doesn’t shy […]
December 03, 2025
A lot is going to happen for Nissan Belux in 2026. The recently launched Micra and Leaf are ready for sale; other BEVs are coming. Secondly, Nissan will again be present at the Brussels Motor Show (BMS) in January. Thirdly, Nissan Belux, part of Nissan eNEST (Benelux plus three Scandinavian countries), will be selling the […]
December 03, 2025
A new analysis of end-of-lease EVs by Belgian mobility organisation VAB confirms what international research has long indicated: battery reliability is far better than many early predictions, and the second-hand electric car market has matured much faster than most consumers realize. With high battery health, falling purchase prices, and ownership costs that increasingly rival or […]
December 02, 2025
According to data from the sector federation Febiac and the Federal Public Service Mobility & Transport, 28,071 new cars were registered in November, 11.8% fewer than in the same month last year. Looking at the first 11 months of this year, sales went down 9.2% compared to the previous year. We see the same trend […]
December 02, 2025
Kia officially confirmed on Tuesday that its all-new EV2 will make its world debut at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show in January 2026, a decision that places Europe firmly at the center of the brand’s electric ambitions. The EV2 has been designed from the start as a European car. It will be the smallest member […]
December 01, 2025
The Flemish government has definitively abolished the tightening of the low-emission zones (LEZ). Initially, the plan was to ban diesel cars with the Euro 5 standard and gasoline cars with the Euro 2 standard from Antwerp and Ghent starting in 2026. Still, in September, the Flemish government decided to suspend this tightening. This suspension has […]
November 28, 2025
When Leapmotor first unveiled the B05 at the IAA Mobility show in Munich last September, it was clear that the compact electric hatchback was conceived with Europe in mind. What was less clear then was how aggressively the Chinese newcomer, backed by Stellantis, intended to position itself. Now, following the official launch of the model […]
November 27, 2025
CATL, the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries, and automotive giant Stellantis have started construction of a battery factory in Figueruelas, near Zaragoza. The expected capacity of the LFP battery factory is up to 50 kWh, enough to supply tens of thousands of EVs with batteries each year. For CATL, this is the third battery […]
November 27, 2025
BMW is reportedly considering equipping some electric models with range extenders, primarily for the Chinese market. The larger model series are the main candidates, as they are more likely to have the space for an additional powertrain. News agency Bloomberg broke the news on BMW’s plans, citing sources familiar with the company’s strategy. Apparently, the […]
November 26, 2025
On the Belgian car market, where company cars account for more than 60% of registrations, no electric model has made a louder entrance this year than the Kia EV3. With 39% of its cars sold being purely EVs, Kia scores higher than the Belgian market average of 33%. And by launching a new EV4, EV5, […]
November 26, 2025
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius is apparently seeking a second term as president of the European Car Manufacturer Association ACEA. The ACEA president is elected annually, and an extension is possible, which Källenius now appears to intend. The rumors were reported by the German business publication Handelsblatt, citing industry sources. Typically, the ACEA president serves a […]
November 26, 2025
According to the data of the European Car Manufacturers Association ACEA, there were 5.8% more cars registered in October compared to the same month in 2024. Year-to-date, there’s a slight progress of 1.4%, mainly due to the positive last four months. The battery-electric car market share reached 16.4% YTD, yet it is still below the […]
November 25, 2025
Before the end of the year, the Peugeot family must decide who will represent them on the Stellantis Board. Currently, Robert Peugeot (75) is the Vice-President of the Board, representing the PSA part of the group. At the same time, Agnelli heir John Elkann is the President of the Stellantis Board, representing the FCA interests. […]
November 24, 2025
BYD has moved decisively into the global lead in battery-electric vehicle sales, widening the gap with Tesla and signalling a shift in the balance of power in the world’s largest and most contested segment of the auto market. New data for the third quarter of 2025 shows BYD selling more than 582,000 BEVs worldwide, comfortably […]
November 21, 2025
On January 1st, 2026, Magnus Nilsson will take over as the new CEO and plant manager of Volvo Car Gent from Stefan Fesser. After more than seven years, Stefan Fesser will take on a strategic role within the company. Magnus Nilsson (58) was born in Sweden. He has worked for Volvo Cars since 1988, in various […]
November 21, 2025
Chances are high that you’ve seen this S6 EV before. In the summer, this SUV was inadvertently published on Euro NCAP’s test publication pages ahead of its official reveal. MG has finally unwrapped the full specs of its latest addition to its electric portfolio. It’s an SUV destined for families who have outgrown the S5 […]
November 21, 2025
With the new Mokka GSe, which we drove on the roads north of Madrid and on the Jarama race circuit, Opel is doing something unusual in today’s EV market. Instead of chasing maximum range, fleet efficiency, or price-optimised urban mobility, the brand is deliberately injecting emotion and performance into one of its smallest electric SUVs. […]
November 20, 2025
According to several sources, primarily German, Mercedes is quietly shifting its model strategy. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, the ‘L-word’ (L for Luxury) has now become taboo, and the Stuttgart-based manufacturer is now reshifting its focus to ‘premium in all segments’. About three years ago, Mercedes announced that it would focus more on the […]
November 20, 2025
Porsche has unveiled its second electric SUV with the new Cayenne. In the Stuttgart-based company’s revised strategy, the Cayenne Electric is no longer the only way forward, but part of a ‘three-pronged drive strategy’ alongside combustion engines and hybrids. One thing remains clear: if you want to drive the most powerful Cayenne, there’s no getting […]
November 19, 2025
Jeep is taking battery power off-road with the 2026 Recon, its first trail-rated electric vehicle. The 650-hp Recon was built to handle rugged terrain, with plenty of torque to overcome obstacles in the wilderness. It offers up to 400 km of driving range and accelerates to 100 kph in less than four seconds. Product blitz […]
November 19, 2025
Leapmotor, the only 10-year-old Chinese electric carmaker backed by Stellantis, is about to launch a new compact crossover, the A10, with an all-electric powertrain. It will be positioned to directly compete with BYD’s Atto 2, with an expected price between 80,000 and 100,000 yuan (9,710 and 12,137 euros). This could be an essential player in […]
November 18, 2025
A new international survey by the Global EV Alliance suggests the electric-vehicle landscape is being shaped as much by politics and perception as by product and pricing. As for car brands, 41% of buyers are reluctant to buy Tesla due to political concerns, while one in ten opposes cars made in China. The Global EV […]
November 18, 2025
Renault Group and Nissan are in talks to revive their faltering alliance following leadership changes at the two automakers and struggles at Nissan, The Financial Times reported. Citing people familiar with the discussions, the FT reported on November 17th that Luca de Meo’s departure last summer had spurred the talks. De Meo was replaced by […]
November 17, 2025
The Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the battery cell joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, appears to be on the verge of permanently closing its factory in Termoli, Italy. An announcement could be made in a matter of weeks. The decision is imminent and could be officially announced by the end of this year or […]
November 14, 2025
The European Parliament on Thursday backed a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, broadly aligning with the position agreed earlier by EU member states. 379 MEPs voted in favor, 248 against. The 2040 target is now legally enshrined as an intermediate step towards 2050, when the EU […]
November 14, 2025
As Chinese carmakers accelerate their push into global markets, Chery’s youth-oriented Omoda brand is preparing a two-pronged assault on Europe, strengthening its presence with two new electrified models. The company announced that the Omoda 5 will receive a new SHS-H hybrid variant later this year. At the same time, the all-new Omoda 4, unveiled at Chery’s […]
November 14, 2025
Despite the popularity of the (electric) bicycle, the car remains the Belgian’s favourite means of transport. Its share in our transport has generally remained stable over the past 25 years. However, the use of bicycles, especially e-bikes, continues to increase, as shown by the new, large-scale survey by the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, conducted from […]
November 14, 2025
A new study by the French Institut Mobilités en Transition (IMT) casts fresh doubt on the future of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), arguing that prolonging their sale in Europe beyond 2035 would harm both household budgets and the continent’s climate ambitions. The study finds that for buyers of new vehicles, plug-in hybrids cost about 7% […]
November 13, 2025
EVs are increasingly showing supercar performance, but this might hit a ceiling soon. China is preparing to introduce a sweeping new rule that would cap how quickly cars can accelerate when started, for instance. A new draft issued by the Ministry of Public Security proposes that all passenger vehicles be, by default, unable to accelerate […]
November 13, 2025
The upcoming all-electric GLB is currently undergoing final testing. Ahead of the presentation announced for early December, Mercedes has now released the first official information and images of the family SUV. Mercedes is consistently switching to its new, not-so-compact nomenclature: with the model change, the EQB family SUV is becoming the ‘GLB with EQ technology’. […]
November 12, 2025
Executives at Renault Group say they hope the European Commission’s plan for an ‘E-car,’ a small, low-cost EV built in Europe, can be accomplished by freezing regulations for existing small cars rather than creating a new category. Such a freeze would allow automakers to lower their cost base and make the cars economically viable and […]
November 12, 2025
The Flemish national broadcasting company VRT is launching a remarkable traffic campaign to remind Flemish drivers that there are no excuses when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. One of the key figures in the campaign is… television producer Tom Waes, who was involved in a traffic accident one year ago, […]
November 10, 2025
After weeks of rising concerns across Europe’s car industry, shipments of Nexperia semiconductors are moving again. It’s a relief for automakers but also a stark reminder of how fragile Europe’s industrial supplier network has become. Volkswagen, Continental spinoff Aumovio, and Bosch have all confirmed receiving new deliveries from the Chinese-owned chipmaker. The disruption began when […]
November 10, 2025
The latest ‘Electromobility Report’ from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, shows that e-mobility worldwide has been experiencing a significant upswing so far this year. In the world regions most important to the automotive industry – China, Europe, and the USA – approximately 12.8 million highly electrified vehicles were sold from the […]
November 07, 2025
More than half of all electric cars on Belgian roads are leased or rented. According to new figures from the vehicle rental federation Renta, its members alone operate 195,990 fully electric cars, representing 51% of Belgium’s total EV fleet. The data highlight the crucial role of corporate leasing in driving the country’s vehicle electrification. Renta […]
November 06, 2025
Launched in 1992, Renault Twingo radically transformed the A segment with its bold new vision of the city car. Today, Renault wants to reinvent the electric A segment, with a bold ‘reinvention’ of its former success story. “Contrary to popular belief, the current size of the A segment is not a reflection of low demand: […]
November 06, 2025
On the eve of the UN climate summit in Brazil, the EU climate ministers reached an agreement on a 2040 climate target on Wednesday morning. The EU member states have agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990. However, the agreement has been weakened in several areas. […]
November 06, 2025
BMW CEO Oliver Zipse confirmed the i3 name for the next Neue Klasse model during the company’s quarterly results call. Production is scheduled to begin in Munich in the second half of 2026, followed by rollouts at additional plants. “With the eighth generation of the 3 Series, we will bring the Neue Klasse and its […]
November 05, 2025
After nearly two years of delay, ICO in Zeebrugge has broken ground on what will become Europe’s first fully automated multilevel parking system for finished vehicles. This €50-million-plus project marks a new chapter for the continent’s automotive logistics, ICO’s Japanese parent company NYK announced. The installation, a collaboration between ICO and Belgian partners Stow Group and […]
November 05, 2025
The second-hand car market was quieter in October than last year, with a 2.8% decline to 65,351 units. In October 2024, 67,201 used cars were registered, 4,203 more than in October 2023. The used car market continues to perform well, with 621,316 used cars registered over the past 10 months, an increase of 0.5% compared […]
