Decarbonization Targets for Trucks and Buses Are Much More Needed Than Targets on Paper!

Brussels, 21 November 2023 — The European Parliament has voted to support strict new CO₂ reduction targets for trucks and buses. This major decision could reshape the future of road transport in Europe.

🚛 New Targets for Truck and Bus Emissions

By 2030, manufacturers must reduce CO₂ emissions by 45% compared to 2019/2020 levels.
This ambitious goal pushes the transport sector into a new era of cleaner mobility.

However, success depends on more than rules. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) warns that transformation needs collaboration between the public and private sectors. Without it, progress will stall.

💬 Industry Calls for Supportive Conditions

ACEA’s Director General, Sigrid de Vries, said:

“We are ready to decarbonize. The question is how fast we can do it.”

She confirmed that manufacturers already develop fossil-free transport technologies.
Yet, they face major roadblocks: poor infrastructure, lack of policy support, and limited carbon pricing incentives.

🔋 Zero-Emission Technology Exists but Lacks Support

Manufacturers are investing billions in battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and buses.
Production scales up rapidly, but charging and refueling infrastructure falls far behind.

Governments must act now. They need to fund and build public infrastructure to enable the shift from diesel to zero-emission fleets.
Without that, meeting 2030 climate goals is nearly impossible.

⚠️ Infrastructure Shortfalls Could Jeopardize Progress

De Vries emphasized that manufacturers can’t do it alone:

“We depend on conditions outside our control.”

She called on EU policymakers to back climate goals with incentives, not just penalties.
Only balanced regulations will ensure real progress.

📊 Monitor Progress—Don’t Just Enforce

The EU must monitor yearly progress across all member states.
Tracking will expose where infrastructure gaps and policy failures exist.
Simply punishing manufacturers without enabling them will backfire.

📦 Trucks and Buses Keep Europe Moving

Consider this:

• 77% of land freight in the EU moves by truck

• Over 50% of public transport trips use buses

Zero-emission commercial vehicles are critical to reducing pollution.

To reach 2030 targets, Europe must deploy:

• 400,000+ zero-emission trucks

• 100,000 new zero-emission trucks yearly

• 50,000 public chargers, including 35,000 MCS units

• 700 hydrogen refueling stations (2 tonnes/day capacity each)

🏭 The Automotive Industry Powers Europe

The sector is more than transport—it’s the economic backbone of Europe:

• 12.9 million jobs

• 8.3% of all EU manufacturing employment

• €392 billion in annual tax revenues

• €101.9 billion trade surplus

• €59.1 billion invested yearly in R&D (31% of total EU R&D)

• Over 7% of EU GDP comes from automotive manufacturing

✅ Conclusion: Targets Need Tools, Not Just Words

Manufacturers are fully committed to cutting emissions and building green fleets.
But ambition alone isn’t enough.

Europe needs infrastructure, incentives, and fair policies.
The clean transport future depends on what we build—not just what we say.