BRUSSELS — For decades, the Brussels Motor Show lived in the shadow of Geneva, Paris and Munich. That hierarchy is harder to defend after the 2026 edition, which ran January 10–19 at Brussels Expo and drew record exhibitor demand, multiple world premieres and a European Car of the Year announcement that gave the event a genuine headline moment.
What stood out was not just the number of electric vehicles on display but how production-ready most of them looked. The cars generating the longest queues were not far-off concepts; they were models with confirmed specifications, announced price brackets and delivery windows within the next 12 months. Here is what mattered most.
The show that outgrew its reputation
Stellantis, the group behind Peugeot, Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and several other marques, committed to 62 vehicles across its brands on the Brussels floor, according to The Times. That kind of floor-space investment used to be reserved for the big-rotation shows. Stellantis was not alone: virtually every major group expanded its Brussels footprint for 2026, treating the event as a launchpad for European-market models rather than a secondary stop.
Part of the draw is timing. The show falls in January, weeks before order books open for many spring-delivery models, making it a natural venue for manufacturers to gauge public reaction before committing to production volumes.
Kia EV2: the affordable EV Brussels was waiting for
Kia used the show for the world premiere of the EV2, a B-segment electric crossover positioned as the brand’s most accessible battery vehicle yet. According to Kia’s official announcement, the EV2 is the company’s sixth dedicated electric model and is designed to deliver “confidence-inspiring urban driving dynamics” at a price point aimed at first-time EV buyers across Europe.
Two battery options were confirmed. The Standard Range version carries a WLTP-rated range of approximately 317 km (197 miles), while the Long Range variant stretches to roughly 448 km (278 miles). Those numbers place the EV2 squarely in the daily-driver comfort zone for most European households, where average daily trips fall well under 60 km.
Kia did not stop there. GT performance variants of the EV3, EV4 and EV5 also appeared on the stand, fitted with sportier body kits and uprated power outputs. The message was deliberate: Kia wants its electric lineup to cover everything from city runabout to performance crossover, all built on shared architecture.
Pricing for the EV2 has not been officially confirmed, but Kia has previously indicated it is targeting a starting figure around €25,000 in key European markets. If that holds, it would undercut most comparable offerings from Volkswagen and Renault.
Mercedes CLA takes European Car of the Year honors
The other headline from Brussels was the European Car of the Year announcement, which took place at a ceremony held alongside the show. The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA took the 2026 title, selected by the independent jury of European automotive journalists who have awarded the prize annually since 1964.
The jury cited the CLA’s electrified powertrain options and its technology-dense cabin. The new CLA is available with plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid drivetrains, and Mercedes has confirmed a fully electric variant will follow. Standard equipment includes the latest generation of the MBUX infotainment system and Level 2 driver-assistance features.
For Mercedes, the win validates a strategic bet. The CLA sits in the compact premium segment, a volume category where electrification has been slower to take hold than in the SUV space. Winning COTY with a model that leans on efficient, electrified powertrains rather than raw horsepower signals where the premium market is heading.