Truck Makers Can Earn Green Credits With New Rule

The European Parliament has adopted a new rule that changes how heavy‑duty vehicle makers can earn “emission credits” from 2025 to 2029.

Why it matters

• The rule keeps the CO₂ targets set in 2019 unchanged. Those targets are part of the EU’s plan to cut net greenhouse‑gas emissions by at least 55 % from 1990 levels by 2030 and to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
• It gives manufacturers more flexibility to meet the targets, especially because charging stations for trucks on motorways are still being built.

How the credits work

• A manufacturer earns credits when the average CO₂ emissions of its trucks in a given year are below the specific target for that year, not just below the overall reduction trend.
• The credit amount is the difference between the target and the actual emissions, multiplied by the number of vehicles sold that year.
• This allows companies to earn credits earlier, which can encourage the faster introduction of zero‑emission trucks.

Who is covered

• The rule applies to all heavy‑duty vehicles sold in the EU.
• It does not apply to urban buses, because those vehicles already use zero‑emission models and are not affected by the lack of motorway charging.

When it starts

• The regulation becomes active 20 days after it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
• It is binding and directly applicable in every EU member state.

In short, the new regulation lets truck makers earn credits for meeting yearly CO₂ targets, supports early use of zero‑emission trucks, and keeps the EU’s long‑term climate goals on track.