Interstate 19 in Arizona uniquely displays distances in kilometers rather than miles, a remnant of the 1975 Metric Conversion Act aimed at transitioning the US to the metric system. The highway near the Mexican border was selected as an experiment due to its isolation and proximity to a region where kilometers are standard. Although President Ronald Reagan abolished the United States Metric Board in 1982, ending the national effort, the kilometer signs on I-19 remained because local businesses and communities opposed their replacement with imperial units.
A car collided with the facade of an auction house on Kipstraat in central Rotterdam shortly before 16:00 hours. No injuries were reported, although occupants were checked by ambulance personnel and did not require hospitalization. The impact caused a cracked windshield and vehicle damage, while the exact cause of the accident remains unknown.
Fast food chain McDonald's presented a new business strategy on Wednesday following disappointing results, focusing on artificial intelligence and chicken burgers.
More than 60 parties have submitted bids to the curator for bankrupt bicycle manufacturer Accell, which owns brands such as Batavus and Sparta. Although merger specialist Jeroen Vercauteren described this interest as remarkable, experts caution that a successful restart is not yet certain, as many bidders may only be interested in purchasing inventory or specific brand assets rather than continuing operations. The curator has been negotiating with candidates since late August to maximize returns, noting that a full restart would also benefit suppliers who are creditors. Currently, 434 creditors have reported debts totaling over 38 million euros. While Accell closed its last Dutch factory in Heerenveen a year ago, significant administrative functions remain in the Netherlands with 231 employees. The next insolvency report is expected on December 22.
Nissan has reintroduced the Pixo, an all-electric city car based on the Renault Twingo platform, aiming to capture the growing A-segment market with an affordable price point around €20,000. The vehicle features an 82-horsepower motor, a 27.5-kWh battery providing 259 kilometers of range, and standard fast-charging capabilities. Designed by Masato Koyama with pixel-inspired aesthetics, the Pixo offers practical interior space and aims to attract both existing customers and those currently driving petrol cars, with deliveries expected to begin early next year.
Despite significant increases in gasoline and diesel prices, Dutch drivers are not reducing their speed on highways. Data from the app Flitsmeister shows that average speeds remain around 100 km/h during the day and approximately 120 km/h after 19:00, even though the limit is 130 km/h. While households have reduced fuel consumption by about 10 liters per month due to higher costs, traffic psychologist Gerard Tertoolen attributes the lack of slower driving to impulsive behavior and the minimal time savings gained by reducing speed. Drivers prefer to complain about prices rather than alter their habitual driving patterns.
A new world record for top speed was set during a Top Fuel drag race weekend. These vehicles, described as the fastest accelerating cars in the world, compete over a sprint distance of 1,000 feet, which is approximately 305 meters.
Sixty parties have expressed interest in restarting the bankrupt Accell group, known for brands including Batavus, Sparta, Babboe, and Raleigh. Curators received bids for individual brands or groups, with Irish investor Quanta Capital and DuTech Holdings among those in talks. To increase restart chances, curators agreed with major creditors, including Dutch banks and Deutsche Bank holding an 110 million euro facility, to allow sales of inventory as usual. Accell was declared bankrupt by the Amsterdam court in August due to Babboe bike recalls and unsold stock from the pandemic period.
European motorists are paying approximately 40 percent more for diesel compared to earlier this year, resulting in an extra cost of about 30 euros per full 50-liter tank. Drivers using gasoline are also seeing increased prices.
A car was fully destroyed by fire on the night of 2026-09-23 near Nuijeneind in Bakel. Firefighters arrived around 02:20 to find flames erupting from the vehicle, which was parked next to a chalet park. Rescuers found an object resembling a burning canister in a nearby field. While the cause remains unknown, arson is not ruled out due to previous incidents at this location. A recovery company removed the burnt vehicle.
Two cars collided shortly before midnight on Tuesday at the intersection of Ringbaan West and Baroniebaan in Tilburg, causing one vehicle to land on its side. Emergency services responded, with firefighters rescuing a woman who was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Both vehicles sustained significant damage, leading to road closures and the involvement of a recovery company. Police are investigating the cause of the crash, including whether one driver ran a red light.
On the evening of Tuesday, September 22, a car caught fire on Eindhovenseweg in Valkenswaard while driving toward Eindhoven. The driver noticed smoke under the dashboard and pulled over, where the vehicle became fully engulfed between Merendreef and a gas station. A damaged petrol tank made extinguishing the fire difficult. The driver, who had borrowed the car, remained uninjured. Traffic was temporarily halted, and although the driver had recently seen a marten-like animal near the vehicle, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Skoda is launching its first electric seven-seat SUV, the Peaq, ahead of 2027 to offer an alternative to the Kodiaq as fiscal rules change for combustion engines. Measuring 4.87 meters, the Peaq features a modern interior with Android Automotive and optional third-row seating that reduces cargo space to 299 liters. It offers three powertrain options, including the 90 model with 286 hp and a WLTP range of up to 647 kilometers, positioning it as a competitive luxury option within the Volkswagen Group.
Dacia topwoman Katrin Adt states that the most frequently used button in Dacia and Renault vehicles is the physical My Safety switch, which allows drivers to disable annoying driver assistance alerts. This feature addresses criticism regarding excessive European safety regulations that complicate designs and increase costs. Adt notes that nearly a quarter of Dacia’s development budget is spent on compliance rather than innovation. Alongside Renault executives like Fabrice Cambolive, Dacia is urging the European Commission to pause new rules to keep small cars affordable and reduce engineer workload.
Ikea is investing 40 million euros in the Netherlands to permanently lower prices on 500 popular items, including the Kivik sofa and Valevag mattress, while introducing smaller, supermarket-sized stores to be closer to customers. Financial Director Sandra Schouten stated that the company aims to keep 50% of its products in the low-price range due to consumers becoming more critical with spending. The franchisees allocated 1.2 billion euros for these price reductions, with efficiency measures such as reduced packaging for Pax cabinets helping to offset costs. Schouten emphasized that this is not a marketing stunt but a response to financial pressures, noting that while some prices may rise due to inflation, the overall trend is a permanent average decrease of 2.5 percent.
A borrowed car caught fire on Tuesday night at Eindhovenseweg in Valkenswaard, with firefighters struggling due to a damaged fuel tank. The driver reported seeing a marten near the vehicle before smoke emerged from the dashboard while driving toward Eindhoven, prompting him to pull over before the car was fully consumed by flames.
Italian and Polish authorities are collaborating to stop a scheme where drivers use Polish license plates to avoid higher Italian road taxes and insurance costs. Approximately 70,000 vehicles currently hold Polish registrations, with half based in Naples, prompting both governments to intervene against the practice.
Lowie from Heense Molen is permitted to keep his self-built speed camera stand in his backyard, as neither the province nor the police see grounds for intervention provided it causes no hindrance. Lowie installed the device to deter speeding vehicles on the nearby N257, which he claims reach speeds of 120 to 140 km/h. While authorities acknowledge the legal ambiguity, they prefer visible measures like green traffic dummies that clarify the role of public enforcement. The province notes that although Lowie previously had to remove the stand from a roadside strip, its placement on private property remains acceptable unless it creates dangerous situations for drivers.
The automotive industry association BOVAG views the new subsidy for electric used vehicles as a positive gesture but has raised concerns regarding its practical implementation. While welcoming the financial support, the organization questions the feasibility of executing the scheme effectively.
