BRUSSELS, Sept 14 - Europe’s truckmakers have asked EU authorities to postpone enforcement of the bloc’s 2030 CO2 reduction target for heavy-duty vehicles by three years, saying current market and infrastructure conditions mean zero-emission trucks are not yet commercially viable for many buyers.
Under the European Union’s existing regulatory framework, manufacturers must cut CO2 emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles by 43% in 2030 compared with 2025 levels, followed by targets of 64% in 2035 and 90% in 2040. The rules include penalties for manufacturers that fail to meet required reductions, although firms can earn emission credits during the 2025-2029 period.
Industry data cited by the manufacturers shows that only 2.4% of new heavy-duty vehicles currently sold are zero-emission models - a share far below what would be needed to meet the 2030 reduction benchmark.
In a joint statement, the chief executives of Europe’s seven largest truck and bus makers - including DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Iveco and Scania - said that, given present conditions, adherence to the 2030 target should be delayed by three years.
The executives urged policymakers to take steps to improve the commercial environment for zero-emission trucks. Their recommendations included:
- Accelerating the rollout of public and private charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles;
- Speeding up the process for grid connections to support increased electricity demand;
- Expanding CO2-based road tolling schemes to better reflect emissions costs; and
- Reinvesting revenues from emissions trading into infrastructure and measures to boost zero-emission vehicle uptake.
The appeal from truck and bus makers comes as EU policymakers consider broader changes to automotive climate rules. Separately, they are debating a European Commission proposal that would remove the de facto ban on new combustion-engine cars from 2035 after industry pressure to relax some green-policy measures.
This report presents the manufacturers’ position and their policy requests without assessing or predicting future regulatory outcomes. The companies say the combination of insufficient charging networks and high energy costs undermines the business case for buyers to choose zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles at scale today.