The Council of the European Union has formally adopted a strategic amendment to the CO2 emission standards regulation for heavy-duty vehicles, introducing temporary compliance flexibility for manufacturers. While the long-term decarbonisation targets remain unchanged, the new rules allow for a more adaptable transition towards the 2030 requirements.
This legislative adjustment acknowledges significant structural hurdles currently impacting the transport sector, most notably the sluggish deployment of public charging infrastructure along major European motorways. The amendment is designed to facilitate a steady shift toward zero-emission mobility whilst maintaining the Union’s overarching climate ambitions.
Under existing EU law, manufacturers of trucks, buses, and coaches must meet rigorous CO2 reduction targets: 15% by 2025, 43% by 2030, and 90% by 2040. Traditionally, compliance is tracked via a strict linear trajectory between these five-year milestones.
The newly adopted measures alter the credit system for the 2025–2029 period. Manufacturers may now accumulate emission credits if their fleet performance surpasses their specific annual CO2 targets, rather than being held to the previous, more rigid reduction path. This change is intended to incentivise the earlier deployment of zero-emission vehicles by allowing companies to “bank” more credits ahead of the 2030 deadline.
The updated calculation mechanism specifically targets heavy lorries exceeding 16 tonnes and certain bus categories over 7.5 tonnes. Notably, urban buses are excluded from this flexibility, as the Council noted that the transition to zero-emission models in cities is already well-advanced and less reliant on long-distance motorway charging networks.
This amendment formed a core part of the automotive package presented by the Commission in December 2025. Following a swift agreement between the Council and the European Parliament, the regulation is set for publication in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force 20 days thereafter. A broader revision of the substantial CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles is currently scheduled for 2027.
Despite representing only 2% of vehicles on EU roads, heavy-duty transport accounts for more than 25% of the region’s road transport greenhouse gas emissions, making the sector a critical focal point for European climate policy.
