Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers: Rapid Market Ramp-Up Remains on the Horizon

For the third time, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) brought together users, manufacturers, infrastructure operators, and policymakers at the “Climate-Friendly Commercial Vehicles Conference” in Berlin. Approximately 500 participants discussed perspectives, regulatory frameworks, and measures for scaling up climate-friendly commercial vehicles in Germany and Europe on November 12, 2024.

The conference was opened by Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, and Dagmar Fehler, CEO and spokesperson of NOW GmbH. Highlights included a high-level panel of German commercial vehicle manufacturers and logistics providers, perspectives from the Netherlands, and, notably, the release of the report evaluating the Cleanroom discussions with commercial vehicle manufacturers.

Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport: “Logistics is becoming climate-friendly: According to the report, by 2030, nearly 70 percent of new heavy truck registrations are expected to be battery- or hydrogen-powered. The BMDV is supporting this major shift by establishing a nationwide fast-charging network for trucks along highways, creating planning security for the industry and transport sector. Megawatt-level charging directly on the highway will thus become widely available. Together with freight carriers, we are working towards the climate-friendly logistics of tomorrow.”

Dagmar Fehler, CEO and spokesperson of NOW GmbH: “Commercial vehicles with alternative drives will make road freight transport in Germany more sustainable and significantly contribute to climate targets. All commercial vehicle manufacturers recognize this and are actively shaping the transformation. However, they all agree that meeting the ambitious reduction targets for 2030 and beyond will be challenging, which is why they are keeping various technology options open. Now, a rapid infrastructure build-up and reliable advisory and support services for users are needed. NOW GmbH will continue to support the commercial vehicle sector with expertise and assist the government in coordination.”

Sales Forecasts from Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers Presented in the Cleanroom Report

The “Cleanroom Report” from the BMDV complements the first report from 2022, focusing on manufacturers' planned sales figures for the coming years and the strategic orientations behind them. Manufacturers involved in the latest Cleanroom discussions represent over 95 percent of the market for heavy commercial vehicles of EU vehicle class N3 (> 12 t) in Germany.

In the 2022 Cleanroom discussions, a dynamic shift in road freight transport towards climate-friendly drives was already emerging. The latest manufacturer forecasts confirm the 2022 findings: by 2030, nearly 70 percent of new registrations of heavy commercial vehicles (N3/>12 t) in Germany will be emissions-free. The report also confirms that battery-electric trucks remain the dominant technology path for emissions-free heavy commercial vehicles.

Compared to the 2022 discussions, propulsion strategies have diversified: while batteries and fuel cells remain central, hydrogen combustion engines and, in select cases, plug-in hybrids have been added. Some manufacturers also supplement their drive portfolios with alternative low-emission fuels (Bio-CNG/-LNG). For manufacturers, the rapid expansion of public infrastructure, particularly truck charging infrastructure, remains a top priority to achieve the climate protection targets for road freight transport. This infrastructure is seen as the most critical framework for a successful market ramp-up.

Regulatory Framework as a Driver for Transformation on the Road

The conference highlighted that the regulatory framework, especially CO₂ fleet targets for heavy commercial vehicles and the CO₂-differentiated truck toll, provides a strong incentive to transition to electric commercial vehicles. Additionally, other instruments, such as the GHG reduction quota, can contribute to the economic operation of climate-friendly commercial vehicles.