European businesses in the transport sector call for EU to maintain stability and ambition on decarbonising heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs)

Dear President of the European Commission Ms Ursula von der Leyen,
Dear Executive Vice-Presidents,
Dear Commissioners,

We are writing as European businesses and organisations committed to the decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs).

Together, we urge the EU to uphold ambition on its world-leading CO2 standards and not bring forward the planned 2027 review.

Businesses across Europe have already made significant investments in transitioning their HDV fleets, recognising the business opportunity of electrification and decoupling from global fuel price volatility. However, their continued progress depends on the certainty that zero-emission models are available and affordable to deliver on these investments.

The CO₂ standards for HDVs are therefore a crucial mechanism for meeting Europe’s climate commitments, safeguarding economic growth and delivering energy security. They are also vital for the future of Europe’s automotive industry, which risks being left behind in the global race to electrify.

Any weakening of the standards or bringing forward the planned 2027 review will undermine the regulatory stability on which Europe’s economic future relies and create investment uncertainty. The standards have only recently been subject to a targeted amendment for the 2025–2030 period, which could lead to 200,000 fewer electric trucks on Europe’s roads over the next decade. Further changes now would only compound this damage and increase uncertainty.

By upholding the original ambition of the HDV CO₂ standards alongside the revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and the Grids Package to ensure the continued deployment of high-power charging infrastructure, the EU will create a comprehensive enabling environment to accelerate zero-emission HDV uptake, unlock private investment, support Europe’s industrial transformation and jobs, and stay on track to meet its climate commitments.

We remain open to engaging constructively with the Commission on these topics and contributing to the successful transition to a zero-emission road freight sector.

Yours sincerely,