EV100 members urge EU to keep truck CO2
Major fleet operators including IKEA and EDF have petitioned the EU Commission to maintain current heavy-duty vehicle emissions rules, warning that
EV100 members including IKEA, EDF, Geopost, and DFDS have urged the EU Commission to maintain existing heavy duty vehicle CO2 emissions standards to support investment in electric trucks. The letter, coordinated by the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative, was sent to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on October 1, 2026.
Business case for maintaining current standards
The corporate signatories argue that keeping ambitious CO2 standards will boost demand for electric trucks and unlock further investment in the sector. They contend that weakening EU HDV CO2 standards would undermine investment in electric fleets and create damaging uncertainty. The letter frames maintaining existing rules as a critical signal of business demand to the market.
Current market share and regional disparities
Electric heavy duty trucks currently have only a 2.4 percent market share across Europe. Adoption rates show significant regional disparities.
| Region | Electric HDV Market Share |
|---|---|
| Europe (average) | 2.4% |
| Germany | 4.3% |
| Poland | Below 1% |
| Spain | Below 1% |
| Italy | Below 1% |
In major truck markets like Poland, Spain, and Italy, the share remains below one percent. Germany leads with a 4.3 percent share.
Industry warnings on delays and infrastructure
Expanding charging infrastructure for heavy duty trucks is a primary concern for the EV100 members. Executives from DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ford Otosan, Iveco Group, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania Group, and Volvo Group recently warned that Europe’s shift is being held back by an alarming delay in necessary conditions. They cited slow grid connections for megawatt charging equipment, a process that can take several years, as a major bottleneck. The manufacturers also said the EU Commission has been slow to adapt weights and dimensions rules needed to address the payload disadvantage of heavier zero-emission trucks. This group has called for a three-year delay in the 2030 carbon dioxide emissions target.
Statements on certainty and competitiveness
Dominic Phinn, head of transportation at Climate Group, stated that demand for zero-emission trucks is strong and growing daily. Businesses have made significant investments based on the understanding of a stable regulatory framework, he said, and now need certainty, not a weakening of rules. Marion Labatut of EDF noted that businesses are already taking action to electrify heavy duty fleets, with energy systems investing in supporting infrastructure. Labatut said maintaining ambitious and stable CO2 standards will give companies the confidence to invest at scale and help ensure Europe remains competitive in the transition to zero-emission freight. Phinn added that Europe should build on its leadership by maintaining ambitious standards and ensuring supporting infrastructure and incentives.
The letter urges the EU to accelerate truck electrification by rolling out charging infrastructure and reducing grid bottlenecks via the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and the Euro.
