Brussels, 1 October 2026 – Major businesses are urging the European Commission in a letter to maintain ambitious CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) to maintain future investment in electric fleets. Signatories including IKEA, EDF, Geopost and DFDS have joined industry and civil society organisations in calling for clear, long-term policies that will help businesses to continue investing in electric trucks.
Businesses want to increase investment in electric fleets to reduce their exposure to fuel price spikes. They warn that weakening EU’s HDV CO2 standards would undermine this choice, creating investment uncertainty.
The letter argues for the existing CO2 standards to be maintained as they are, signaling business demand and unlocking more investment. Coordinated by Climate Group’s EV100, the letter is directed at European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice-Presidents Teresa Ribera and Stéphane Séjourné, and the Commissioners responsible for transport, climate and energy.
In addition, the signatories urge the EU to accelerate truck electrification by rolling out charging infrastructure and reducing grid bottlenecks through the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and the European Grids Package.
The letter comes as new T&E analysis reports that electric trucks are already the most cost-effective option in six of the nine major EU markets and could be in all nine by 2030 with the right policy support.
EV100 key partners Smart Freight Centre and Catalyst recently announced the procurement of 2500 electric trucks in the United States, demonstrating that demand for zero-emission freight is growing around the world.
Ewelina Taylor, Global Transport Manager at IKEA Supply Chain Operations, said:
“At IKEA, we believe better transport should be simple, efficient and sustainable for the many. Clear and predictable regulation helps companies invest in zero-emission solutions and bring resilient and sustainable transport closer to reality.”
Lidija Peters, Decarbonisation Projects Lead and Business Relationship Manager at DFDS, said:
"Businesses across the transport value chain are investing in the transition to zero-emission road freight. To sustain this momentum, Europe should provide regulatory certainty and continue building the enabling infrastructure needed to support manufacturers, operators and customers alike as they decarbonise freight transport."
Marion Labatut, Head of EU affairs at EDF, said:
“Businesses are already taking action to electrify their heavy-duty fleets, and EDF is helping them making it possible, while energy systems are investing in the infrastructure to support them. We are seeing a steady progress on HDVs and maintaining ambitious and stable CO2 standards will give companies the confidence to continue investing at scale, while helping ensure Europe remains competitive in the transition to zero-emission freight.”
Lucie Mattera, Secretary General at ChargeUp Europe, said:
“Europe’s transition to zero-emission heavy-duty transport will only succeed if business ambition is matched by political certainty. Across the EV charging value chain, companies are investing today to build the infrastructure that Europe’s electric trucks will need tomorrow. Advancing the review of the HDV CO₂ standards, or lowering their ambition, would risk undermining that investment at precisely the moment when the market needs clear and stable signals.”
Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, said:
“The demand for zero-emission trucks is strong and growing every day. Businesses, including EV100 members, have made significant investment in electric fleets on the understanding that Europe would provide a stable and ambitious regulatory framework for the transition. What companies need now is certainty, not a weakening of the rules that underpin investment decisions. Europe has established itself as a global leader in the shift to zero-emission transport and should build on this momentum by maintaining ambitious HDV CO₂ standards and ensuring the infrastructure and incentives needed to support the market. Doing so will not only allow fleets to continue to lead this transition but will strengthen European competitiveness, enhance energy security and deliver substantial climate benefits.”
ENDS
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For any media enquiries, contact Daniel Kramb, Senior Communications Manager, Climate Group at dkramb@climategroup.org
Notes to Editors