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CLECAT has warned against the introduction of binding zero-emission vehicle targets for corporate fleets of trucks and vans: They could prove counterproductive, risking higher emissions as operators delay fleet renewal due to inflated costs and supply shortages. This was the message in CLECAT’s position paper in response to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the Clean Corporate Vehicles initiative, submitted on 8 September.

The paper also highlights that such mandates would disproportionately burden small and medium-sized enterprises, which dominate the road freight sector, potentially forcing them out of the market and distorting competition through increased administrative and compliance costs.

CLECAT warns that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach fails to account for the varied operational realities and technological maturity across the sector. Instead of rigid targets, the association advocates for a technologically neutral strategy that fosters innovation and allows the market to determine the most effective decarbonisation solutions, whether battery-electric, hydrogen, or alternative fuels. The paper also underscores the risk of undermining the leasing market, where operators rely on flexible fleet management solutions that could be disrupted by inflexible ZEV mandates.

To accelerate the transition to zero-emission road freight, CLECAT proposes a range of alternative measures, including financial incentives such as tax rebates, road charge exemptions, and electricity price caps to reduce the total cost of ownership. CLECAT also calls for improved carbon pricing mechanisms, such as earmarking ETS 2 revenues towards the decarbonisation of the road freight sector, and urgent action to lift barriers to charging and refuelling infrastructure. We urge the Commission to prioritise these supportive measures, ensuring a competitive and sustainable transition for the logistics sector.