EU eases CO₂ credit rules for heavy-duty vehicles

18 March 2026

The European Parliament approved a targeted amendment to the existing CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (Regulation (EU) 2019/1242) to provide manufacturers with more flexibility to ease the compliance with their applicable 2030 CO₂ emission targets.

The measure was proposed as part of the Automotive Package released in December 2025. The EU Council already approved the Commission’s proposal in February.

The adopted amendments allow manufacturers to collect more emission credits for the 2025–2029 reporting periods than in the original Regulation. While Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 originally allowed manufacturers to receive credits only when their CO₂ emissions were below a linear emissions reduction trajectory, with the adopted amendments they will be able to generate credits as soon as their CO₂ emissions are below their annual emission target.

The amendment do not alter the CO₂ reduction targets themselves. EU Regulation 2019/1242, as amended in 2024, requires most trucks to reduce tailpipe CO₂ emissions by 43% by 2030, by y64% by 2035, and by 90% by 2040, relative to 2019/2021.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) said it welcomed the short term flexibility but a successful transition to zero-emission trucks would require closing the gap between regulatory ambition and enabling conditions, as dedicated charging and hydrogen-refueling infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles remains insufficient.

Source: ACEA