New data reveals a sharp rise in zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles across Europe, proving that EU climate regulations are successfully driving market adoption. However, experts warn that intense industry lobbying to weaken these standards risks undermining Europe’s industrial future and handing the market to global competitors at a time when fleets are increasingly looking towards affordable electric options.

According to a new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) for Q1 2026:

  • Zero-emission truck sales in the EU-27 jumped 38% from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026. Electric trucks now make up 4.5% of the market, up from 3.6% last year, spurred by CO2 standards introduced in mid-2025.
  • For heavy trucks, Mercedes-Benz sold 530 electric trucks and continues to lead with its eActros, while MAN sold 411 trucks and DAF sold nearly 200. Conversely, Iveco sold just six electric heavy trucks
  • Sales of ZE heavy trucks increased the most in the Netherlands (338 sales, representing a 10.3% sales share), Sweden (125 sales, 9.7%), and Denmark (100 sales, 10.0%). 

While European truck manufacturers hesitate, the bus and coach sector serves as a stark warning. For the first time, Chinese manufacturer Yutong led Europe in zero-emission sales share in Q1 2026, with BYD and King Long also ranking in the top eight. Experts warn that if European truck makers delay their transition, they will face the same fierce competition and loss of market share currently seen in the passenger car and bus markets.

Europe’s CO2 targets were introduced in 2025 and require a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. 

Intense lobbying by manufacturers has already weakened intermediate production targets from 31% to 23%, a move that could already result in 200,000 fewer electric trucks on the road. Manufacturers and their industry lobby group (ACEA) are currently calling for an early review to weaken the 2030 targets further.

Shareholders questioned the truck manufacturers’ strategies of opposing regulation, instead of delivering on commitments to transition to truck electrification, particularly given the high price of diesel and the desire among fleet operators for choice.

  • Volvo Group faced a shareholder resolution in April over its climate lobbying, following the truck maker’s involvement in weakening EU CO₂ regulations.
  • At Daimler Truck’s annual general meeting in May, a countermotion raised concerns that the company’s lobbying against climate regulations “jeopardizes progress in Daimler’s most important market and threatens global electrification efforts and the competitiveness of the enterprise”. 
  • Countermotions at this month’s TRATON shareholders meeting questioned the company’s “financial performance in 2025 shows that the company is struggling to keep up under a changing industry”.

New entrants, including Chinese manufacturers, are entering the European market poised to provide affordable models to operators. Fleet operators are signaling clear demand for cost-competitive electric trucks as diesel price volatility continues to erode the economics of diesel trucks.

The ICCT report highlights that robust CO2 targets are vital to shield European fleet operators from volatile diesel prices, secure energy independence, and advance technological innovation. Clean freight experts urge the EU Commission to reject calls to weaken the framework and stick firmly to the scheduled 2027 review.

Merlin Jonack, Project Lead Heavy-Duty Vehicle Decarbonisation, NABU Germany

“Sales of heavy-duty electric trucks are growing across the EU, particularly in countries with large truck markets. While frontrunners such as the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries continue to perform strongly, some major markets, including Poland, Spain and Italy, still need to step up their efforts.

Germany is also seeing substantial growth, a trend that is likely to continue and one that is already benefiting Europe’s industrial base, with German manufacturers among the current market leaders in electric trucks. Momentum for electrification has increased significantly, and more hauliers are looking for alternatives that reduce their exposure to fuel price volatility and fossil fuel dependency.

Given the growing economic case for electric trucks and the increasing availability of vehicles and charging infrastructure, I am confident that we will see even stronger sales figures across Europe in the coming quarters.”