Heavy-duty vehicle emissions: more flexibility for truck and bus manufacturers
The EU is extending a helping hand to heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers. The European Parliament has approved a strategic amendment to regulations on CO2 emissions for heavy-duty vehicles, offering manufacturers greater leeway to achieve the ambitious targets set for 2030.
With an overwhelming majority — 473 votes in favor, 81 against, and 9 abstentions — MEPs confirmed that the ecological transition must be ambitious, but also sustainable for industry. In practice, European politicians once again decided to step aside, as happened with the halt on internal combustion cars by 2035.
Heavy-duty vehicle emissions: changes in the credit system
Until now, regulations imposed a progressive reduction of average fleet emissions over strict five-year intervals, allowing manufacturers to accumulate credits if specific CO₂ emissions were below the projected reduction trajectory. The heavy-duty vehicle sector is responsible for over 25% of road transport emissions, and current rules envisage very tight CO2 reduction targets: -45% by 2030, -65% by 2035, and -90% by 2040.
The new amendment introduces an even more flexible credit “banking” mechanism for the 2025-2029 period, allowing manufacturers to generate credits as soon as their CO2 emissions are below their set annual target. Here’s what changes:
- Early accumulation: Manufacturers who manage to fall below CO2 limits ahead of schedule will be able to accumulate a greater number of credits.
- Future reserve: These credits can be spent in subsequent years to offset any difficulties in reaching targets, facilitating compliance by the 2030 deadline.
The change allows companies to better manage investments and production timelines for new electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles.
A response to industry demands
Clearly, as with car sector brands, this decision does not come out of nowhere. In fact, the measure is at the heart of the automotive package presented by the Commission last December 16. It is a direct response to appeals from European industry, which requested bureaucratic simplification and greater flexibility to face the technological transition. Parliament chose to use the urgent procedure to fast-track the text.
Next steps
The legislative process is now nearing its conclusion. Since the Council already approved the same text on February 18, 2026, only the final formal adoption is missing for its definitive entry into force.