Scania leads the ranking of truckmakers’ climate ambition and strategies, in T&E’s latest global ranking. While it only has a target of 50% of its sales to be electric or hydrogen in 2030, it has a very strong industrial strategy, the study finds. Mercedes-Benz Trucks, in second place, aims for 60% of its sales to be zero-emission vehicles in 2030. However, there’s a gap between its announcements and its industrial plans. The company has a weaker battery strategy and has yet to secure a supply of battery raw materials, the report notes. In fourth place, MAN plans a smaller line-up of electric models and has a weaker 2030 zero-emission goal, according to T&E.

Volvo Trucks, meanwhile, the current market leader in zero-emission truck sales in Europe and the US, finishes only mid-table in T&E’s analysis. Despite its ambitious public commitment to reach 70% zero-emission sales by 2030, the company lacks a 100% zero-emission sales target and is investing in gas and biofuels – which still emit CO₂. Renault Trucks aims for half of its sales to be zero emissions by 2030, but it too is hedging on gas and biofuels. IVECO and DAF, which both lack long-term targets and have invested little in battery supply chains and charging networks, are ranked in the bottom half.

Sofie Defour, Freight Director, T&E, comments: ‘European truckmakers all claim to be green, but the reality is less than half of them are on track to go to zero emissions and only via voluntary commitments. There’s a huge gap in the truck industry between manufacturers with a plan to fully decarbonise and those without. The European Union (EU) needs strong truck CO₂ standards to bring the whole European industry up to speed.’

European truck manufacturers face stiff competition from Tesla and BYD, which have already proven their ability to rapidly scale up zero-emission manufacturing in the cars market. They have also built strong battery supply chains including securing supplies of raw materials, according to T&E.

California’s 2036 diesel truck sales ban and the US Inflation Reduction Act could lead to companies prioritising vehicle and battery production investments in the US, the report also warns. This might result in truckmakers’ current voluntary commitments being changed or delayed. T&E says the EU needs to use the revision of its CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles to signal investment certainty in Europe and ensure truckmakers’ commitments are not abandoned. A higher 2030 target will be crucial to push manufacturers to rapidly improve their industrial strategies in the EU, the report finds.

Global brands call for higher EU truck CO₂ standards
Meanwhile, global companies including Nike, Heineken and PepsiCo are calling on the EU to increase climate targets for trucks to help them meet their own green commitments. In a letter to EU lawmakers signed by 41 hauliers, shippers, and logistics and e-mobility companies, including Maersk and DFDS, they say more ambitious CO₂ standards in 2030 and 2040 will lower the costs and accelerate the production of zero-emission trucks at scale.

The companies are urging members of the European Parliament and EU governments to increase the 2030 CO₂ target from the currently proposed 45% reduction to a 65% cut in emissions, to make sure that regulatory ambitions are brought at least on par with their own voluntary ambition levels. This would increase the number of green trucks on Europe’s roads in 2030 by more than 150,000 compared to the European Commission’s proposal.

The signatory companies also urge the EU to set a clear date for 100% of new trucks to be zero emissions. The letter says all truck types should be subject to climate targets to ensure manufacturers ramp up zero-emission vehicle production across all segments. The Commission’s proposal exempted some vehicle types including garbage and construction trucks and some urban delivery trucks, which are often easy to electrify.

The EU Commission has proposed a 45% CO₂ reduction target (compared to 2019/2020 levels) for new trucks sold in 2030, rising to a 90% reduction in 2040. EU environment ministers and the European Parliament are currently debating the draft standards and should agree on the final Regulation early next year.