1. Huge barn find in South Africa Car news, isn’t that mainly about new cars? You would think so, but at AutoWeek.nl we do not only write about new or updated car models. It is clear that you – our loyal readers – also get warm feelings in the gut of cars from days gone by. The news about a gigantic barn find in South Africa really attracted people’s attention. 2. Maximum speed on the highway back to 130 km/h That was something! In May this year it was announced that the main agreement of PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB would state that the maximum speed on the highway would be increased to 130 km/h ‘where possible’. It now appears that the maximum speed can only actually be increased on a few routes. 3. American woman discovers a way to refuel for free for months Free refueling, isn’t that what we all want? A woman in the American state of Nebraska managed to do it, and it appeals to the imagination. She discovered that a kind of bonus card from the local gas station opened the pump if you swiped it past the reader twice. The bill: 0 dollars per liter. A mistake that cost her dearly… 4. ‘All signals are red’ for prices at the pump Speaking of free refueling: refueling in the Netherlands is of course far from that. In April, OPEC+ announced that it would continue to cut production, possibly resulting in higher prices at the pump for much longer. 5. End of ‘grey license plate’ tax requirements in sight for company cars In the Netherlands there are two definitions of a company car: that of the RDW and that of the Tax Authorities. As part of the 2025 Tax Plan, it is proposed to put an end to this and use the RDW definition in all cases. This would make company car life much simpler. How exactly? We – and you – were curious about that. 6. Mercedes-Benz is working on the end of the old brake disc Every car has brake discs or drums. Right? Maybe not anymore. Mercedes-Benz is working on technology that makes the brake disc redundant. Mercedes-Benz told us that and we of course explained in detail what the Germans have in store. 7. RDW renews registration certificate The majority of AutoWeek readers have it in their wallet or card holder: the registration certificate. The registration certificate has no longer been a piece of paper for more than ten years, but a pass. Some new items will be added to the menu from mid-2024. Interesting! 8. The first highway in the Netherlands where you pay tolls electronically will open this year. Paying tolls, you don’t do that in the Netherlands, do you? Wrong! There are a few places in the Netherlands where you pay tolls and one has been added this year. There you also pay the toll electronically. A first for the Netherlands. 9. Plenty of fuel tourism again in Belgium: huge price difference with the Netherlands. Rising fuel prices are once again encouraging many Dutch people to fill up with petrol in Belgium – where refueling is a lot cheaper. Don’t blame them… 10. Dacia Bigster: bigger, stronger and more high-quality than the Duster. The only new car in the Top 10 of hottest car news on AutoWeek.nl is the Dacia Bigster. Given the interest of the AutoWeek reader, the big brother of the Duster seems to have already found the hearts of the Dutch. Fun fact: our April Fool’s joke about a previous generation Mercedes-Benz C-class that was transformed into a Dacia and would go by the name of the Dacia Longster was, after the article about the Bigster, the most popular ‘car news’ of 2024. Also the following cars received a lot of attention: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric Kia EV3 Kia K4 (successor to Kia Ceed) Lynk & Co 02 Tesla Model 3 (Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive) Porsche Macan Electric
Source: www.autoweek.nl
