The European Union’s new rules offer truck manufacturers more leniency on CO₂ compliance until 2029, but critics warn it could hinder the shift to electric vehicles amidst rising diesel prices.
The European Union’s softened treatment of heavy-duty vehicle CO₂ compliance has now taken effect, after the amended rules were published in the Official Journal. The change gives truck makers more breathing room in the years before the bloc’s tougher 2030 milestone, while leaving the headline decarbonisation targets intact.
Under the EU’s heavy-duty vehicle standards, manufacturers are still expected to cut emissions from new lorries by 15% from 2019 levels by 2025, before moving to 45% in 2030, 65% in 2035 and 90% in 2040. Those end goals remain in place, but the new framework removes the requirement for a straight-line annual decline between 2025 and 2029.
In practice, that means the 2025 benchmark will also apply through to 2029. Any manufacturer that performs better than that fixed 15% reduction target in those years will be able to bank the surplus as emission credits. Those credits can then be carried forward to help meet the steeper 2030 requirement and reduce the risk of penalties.
Brussels has argued that the adjustment is necessary because motorway charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles is not being rolled out quickly enough. That, the Commission says, has slowed demand for battery-electric trucks and made it harder for manufacturers to plan a smoother compliance path.
The Council of the European Union approved the amendment on 30 March, and the European Parliament had already backed the change. The revised rules now give the sector targeted flexibility without reopening the long-term policy direction set in 2024, when the EU locked in the stricter post-2025 standards.
The move has drawn criticism from clean-transport campaigners. The International Council on Clean Transportation says the new credit mechanism could lead to about 200,000 fewer electric trucks being registered in the EU over the next decade than previously expected. It also estimates that the share of electric trucks in new registrations could fall far below earlier projections, with effects lasting well beyond 2030 because unused credits can still be applied later.
Eamonn Mulholland, an HGV specialist at the ICCT, said the retreat in ambition was worrying at a time when diesel prices are climbing across Europe. His argument reflects a broader concern in the decarbonisation market: that loosening near-term pressure may delay fleet turnover just as zero-emission models begin to scale.
For truck makers, however, the change offers a more forgiving compliance runway. For the EU, it is a sign that policy is still trying to balance industrial reality with climate ambition, even as the transport sector remains one of the hardest segments to decarbonise.
- https://www.electrive.com/2026/05/07/relaxed-co%E2%82%82-targets-for-hgv-manufacturers-now-in-force/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/30/heavy-duty-vehicles-council-adopts-targeted-flexibility-for-manufacturers-to-comply-with-co2-targets/ – On 30 March 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted an amendment to the regulation on CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. This amendment introduces temporary flexibility for manufacturers to comply with their 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction targets, acknowledging challenges such as the slow deployment of public charging infrastructure along motorways. The revised rules allow manufacturers to accumulate emission credits between 2025 and 2029 if their emissions fall below specific annual CO₂ targets, facilitating compliance from 2030 onwards without altering long-term reduction goals.
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/05/13/heavy-duty-vehicles-council-signs-off-on-stricter-co2-emission-standards/ – On 13 May 2024, the Council of the European Union formally adopted regulations amending and strengthening existing CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The updated rules aim to further reduce CO₂ emissions from road transport and introduce new targets for 2030, 2035, and 2040. The revised standards expand the scope to include nearly all new heavy-duty vehicles, including smaller trucks, urban buses, coaches, and trailers, while maintaining the existing 2025 target of a 15% emissions reduction for heavy lorries over 16 tonnes.
- https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/press-summaries/calculation-heavy-duty-vehicles-emission-credits-2025-2029 – On 9 March 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) published a press summary regarding the calculation of emission credits for heavy-duty vehicles for the 2025–2029 period. The summary highlights the European Commission’s proposal to adjust how manufacturers earn emission credits without changing headline targets. Instead of linking credits to a linear trajectory between 2025 and 2030, manufacturers would earn credits whenever fleet emissions fall below the 15% reduction target set for 2025, aiming to support the sector’s transition to clean mobility.
- https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/transport/road-transport-reducing-co2-emissions-vehicles/reducing-co2-emissions-heavy-duty-vehicles_en – The European Commission’s page on reducing CO₂ emissions from heavy-duty vehicles outlines the EU’s efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions from road transport. It details the CO₂ emission standards established by Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, which set a 15% reduction target by 2025 for heavy lorries over 16 tonnes. The page also discusses the revised targets for 2030 (45%), 2035 (65%), and 2040 (90%), aiming to support the EU’s transition to a clean and sustainable transport system.
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/30/heavy-duty-vehicles-council-adopts-targeted-flexibility-for-manufacturers-to-comply-with-co2-targets/pdf/ – This PDF document provides the official press release from the Council of the European Union dated 30 March 2026, detailing the adoption of an amendment to the regulation on CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. The release explains the introduction of temporary flexibility for manufacturers to comply with their 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction targets, acknowledging challenges such as the slow deployment of public charging infrastructure along motorways. It also outlines the revised calculation for emission credits and the scope of the updated rules.
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/30/heavy-duty-vehicles-council-adopts-targeted-flexibility-for-manufacturers-to-comply-with-co2-targets/ – On 30 March 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted an amendment to the regulation on CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles. This amendment introduces temporary flexibility for manufacturers to comply with their 2030 CO₂ emissions reduction targets, acknowledging challenges such as the slow deployment of public charging infrastructure along motorways. The revised rules allow manufacturers to accumulate emission credits between 2025 and 2029 if their emissions fall below specific annual CO₂ targets, facilitating compliance from 2030 onwards without altering long-term reduction goals.
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article was published on 7 May 2026, which is the earliest known publication date for this information. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content appears original and not recycled from other sources. The narrative is based on a press release from the Council of the European Union, which is a primary source and typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies or concerns were identified.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Eamonn Mulholland, an HGV specialist at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). Searches for these quotes did not reveal earlier appearances, indicating they are original to this article. No variations in wording or unverified quotes were found. The quotes can be independently verified through the ICCT’s official channels. No concerns were identified.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The article originates from Electrive.com, a specialist publication focusing on electric mobility. While it is a niche publication, it is reputable within its field. The lead source is a press release from the Council of the European Union, a major and reliable source. However, Electrive.com is summarising and potentially rewriting content from this press release, which may introduce bias or selective reporting. The source’s reach is limited to the electric mobility sector, which may affect the breadth of its audience. No concerns about the source’s reliability were identified.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The article reports on the European Union’s recent amendment to CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, a topic covered by multiple reputable sources, including the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. The claims made align with these sources, and the article provides specific details such as the 15% reduction target for 2025 and the introduction of emission credits. The language and tone are consistent with typical reporting on EU policy changes. No inconsistencies or off-topic details were found. No concerns were identified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article meets verification standards with high confidence. It is based on a recent press release from the Council of the European Union, includes original quotes from Eamonn Mulholland of the ICCT, and aligns with information from multiple reputable sources. No significant concerns were identified regarding freshness, originality, source reliability, or verification independence.
