European Union (EU) lawmakers and industry leaders convened in Strasbourg, France, earlier this month to explore workable pathways for the shift to zero emission corporate fleets.
The meeting was convened by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and Lease Europe in response to the European Commission preparing to roll out its Greening Corporate Fleets Initiative.
It was hosted by Members of the European Parliament Kosma Złotowski, Jan-Christoph Oetjen and Andrey Novakov.
The discussion was held at a pivotal time, with the European Commission preparing to publish its proposal later this year under the broader EU Automotive Strategy. The discussions focused on ensuring that any upcoming legislation supports fleet operators through incentives, infrastructure and technology options, rather than rigid quotas.
During the meeting, operators from across Europe shared examples of their efforts to decarbonise, including rolling out electric taxis and vans in low-emission zones, adapting depots for high-power truck charging, and piloting electric coaches on interurban routes.
They also raised persistent challenges that continue to hinder scaling-up, such as inadequate charging infrastructure, high vehicle costs and limited model availability, particularly for long-haul and coach operations.
A common theme of the delegates’ discussions during the meeting was that infrastructure must keep pace with ambition.
IRU EU Director, Raluca Marian, warned of the regulatory impacts on businesses, particularly SMEs, saying: “Whether targets are placed on fleet owners, transport operators or shippers, they will create the same harm: distorting markets and destroying business viability.
“Obligations on shippers, for example, will cascade down the chain, pressuring large operators first, then the smaller subcontractors.
“Pretending that only large companies will bear the burden is an illusion in markets deeply rooted in SME subcontracting. Incentives, not obligations, are the way to drive meaningful and sustainable change.”
One of the key points of debate was the European Commission’s consideration of binding targets for large fleets under the forthcoming proposal.
Industry representatives cautioned against a rigid, top-down approach that risks outpacing the market’s ability to deliver.
Operators told the meeting that if mandatory quotas were to be imposed, they needed to be complemented by optimal conditions, affordable vehicles, and widespread infrastructure and technology choices, in order to support business growth.
Participants urged the European Commission to prioritise enabling measures, including targeted incentives, such as purchase grants, tax breaks, toll exemptions, and funding for depot and corridor charging infrastructure.
Participants also called for the EC to preserve a technology-neutral framework, where all potential solutions must be considered in a market populated by a diversity of fleet types, operating conditions, and using electric, hydrogen and renewable fuel solutions.
Member of the Committee on Transport and Tourism Jan-Christoph Oetjen said: “We hear regularly from logistics companies, without charging points, that there’s no business case for zero-emission trucks.
“Technology neutrality is essential; the goal is carbon neutrality. We should bring forward the revision of CO₂ standards for heavy duty vehicles and focus on real use cases.”
The IRU and Lease Europe reiterated their commitment to work with EU institutions to ensure that political ambitions reflect operational realities and help Europe’s fleet sector deliver climate goals fairly, effectively and at scale.
.png){kind=small}
