Germany’s newly formed coalition government has authored an agreement to guide Germany’s key sectors, including commercial transport, until 2029.
The 146-page Responsibility for Germany Coalition Agreement, presented on 9 April 2025 by the three-party coalition and ratified on 30 April, sets the political roadmap for Germany over the next four years.
The coalition, formed after the February 2025 elections, is made up of the Christian Democrat Union/Christian Social Union alliance (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats party (SPD).
The package will form the basis for cooperation between the three parties, which will formulate the Federal Government’s policies until 2029.
The agreement sets out policy approaches on energy, industrial transformation, and climate neutrality, and contains what some commentators see as a practical approach to decarbonisation.
It is seen as combining a technology-neutral, market-oriented approach to energy issues, with a reaffirmation of Germany’s national and EU-level climate targets.
With Germany having a pivotal role in Europe, the new four-year blueprint could have major repercussions for EU policies on climate, energy and emissions.
The CDU/CSU Alliance’s priority has been on easing regulatory pressure, advocating for ‘technology neutrality’, while critical of the EU’s fleet emission targets.
The SPD coalition member has leaned more heavily on industrial policy to transform the transport sector.
The new coalition government is expected to maintain the status quo on transport policy, with no mention in the document of a combustion engine phase-out or mandates on e-fuels.
For the heavy-duty truck and trailer industries, key transport-related provisions of the agreement include:
- A commitment to review CO₂ standards for heavy-duty vehicles as a priority.
- The continuation of toll exemptions for zero-emission trucks beyond 2026.
- A pledge to prevent penalty payments under existing fleet emission limits.
- Expansion of fast-charging networks and depot charging infrastructure, based on demand and user needs.
- Plans to earmark truck toll revenues to support the sector’s transition.
- Recognition of a broader set of low-emission solutions, including plug-in hybrids and range extenders.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU), a peak global body that facilitates trade and international road transport, welcomed the coalition agreement as a step forward towards decarbonisation of commercial road transport.
With the coalition agreement’s ratification, followed by Friedrich Merz’s appointment as German Chancellor on 6 May 2025, the IRU sees the agreement as embracing conditions that will enable the green transition, while avoiding rigid regulatory mandates on transport operators in favour of investment, technology neutrality and infrastructure deployment.
The IRU said the agreement rightly rejects purchasing mandates on fleet owners and focuses on the real tools needed to enable the transition.
However, it noted the agreement lacked definitive support measures for clean fuels, as well as provision for zero-emission vehicles.
It added the document did not clearly provide support for clean fuels in road transport and it contained no explicit measures to promote renewable, or carbon-neutral fuels in road transport.
IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian described the coalition agreement as a “strong and encouraging signal” at a crucial time for the EU’s climate and transport policies.
“The agreement rightly rejects purchasing mandates on fleet owners and focuses on the real tools needed to enable the transition,” said Marian.
“However, despite generally encouraging talk on technology neutrality, it is disappointing not to see explicit measures to promote renewable or carbon-neutral fuels in road transport, especially given the sector’s need for a wide array of technological solutions to reflect the diversity of its operations.”
Without a recognition of clean fuels in road transport, the IRU said there is a risk that key segments of the transport sector, particularly long-haul and heavy-duty operators, will be left without viable options in the near to medium term.
The IRU added that if a decarbonisation strategy was to effectively serve the full breadth of the EU’s commercial road transport modalities, it should incorporate all clean solutions, including clean fuels.
“Many forward-looking transport operators and a broader range of investors have already made important investments in a range of technologies, including, but not limited to, zero-emission vehicles, including clean fuels and the vehicles that use them,” said Marian.
“It is crucial to maintain planning and investment security for operators investing in current and future technologies, all pursuing the common goal of a carbon-free economy.”
The IRU said SMEs’ accessibility to support and funding mechanisms should be taken into account by the new coalition government, particularly as it seeks to encourage greater electrification in the transport sector.
“On the zero-emission vehicle spectrum, we hope that the German government’s approach to earmarking toll revenues for road and decarbonisation purposes will serve as an example and inspiration for future EU and national policies in other Member States,” said Marian.
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