CO2 targets for trucks and buses: much more needed than targets on paper, caution manufacturers

By 2030, the CO2 emissions of new vehicles must be at least -45% lower than 2019/2020. To meet such targets, Europe will need a complete system transformation involving all public and private actors across the heavy-duty transport ecosystem, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).  

“For truck and bus manufacturers, the question is not if, but how fast we can decarbonise. We’re doing our part by providing the vehicles and technology to make Europe’s road transport fossil-free by 2040. Yet, failure to address enabling conditions will not only slow down our sector’s green transition, but also threaten our global competitiveness,” stated Sigrid de Vries, ACEA Director General.  

Manufacturers are investing billions in zero-emission technologies for battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The technology is available, and series production is ramping up fast. Yet, a near absence of charging and refilling infrastructure and a lack of effective carbon pricing schemes and support measures to replace conventional models with zero-emission alternatives are major obstacles to the transition.  

De Vries: “Manufacturers are doing their utmost to decarbonise but rely on enabling conditions that are largely outside their control. Policy makers must recognise this in the CO2 regulation and secure an incentivising policy framework that accelerates road transport’s green transition.” 

In the trilogue negotiations, co-legislators should establish annual monitoring of enabling conditions at the member-state level. Close monitoring is essential to ensure that any shortcomings in infrastructure rollouts or other enabling conditions are promptly addressed. In the absence of these robust enabling conditions, non-compliance penalties on manufacturers would be highly unfair.  

Manufacturers are doing their utmost to decarbonise but rely on enabling conditions that are largely outside their control. Policy makers must recognise this in the CO2 regulation and secure an incentivising policy framework that accelerates road transport’s green transition.