Zero-emission trucks: new Chair of ACEA Commercial Vehicle Board pleas for infrastructure ramp-up

Brussels, 12 January 2022 – Today, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) elected Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo Group, to chair its Commercial Vehicle Board for the year ahead.
“2022 will be a decisive year on the road to zero-emission road freight transport,” Mr Lundstedt said.
The European Parliament and national governments are currently discussing the proposed Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which will bring in binding targets for charging and refuelling infrastructure for each EU member state. The European Commission is also set to propose revised CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles later this year.
“Battery electric trucks are ready to hit the road in large numbers, and fuel-cell trucks will follow shortly,” explained Mr Lundstedt. “However, transport operators’ ability to invest in zero-emission trucks is directly linked to the availability of the right charging and refuelling infrastructure.”
“Unfortunately, the infrastructure that is suited to the specific needs of heavy-duty vehicles is almost completely missing today,” Lundstedt cautioned.
“This is something that the AFIR needs to address urgently, with dedicated and ambitious targets for truck-specific infrastructure. It is very simple: no transport operator will ever buy a battery-electric truck unless they can charge it for smooth and seamless operations.”
Policy makers need to fully understand that setting AFIR targets for heavy-duty vehicles now – ahead of the revision of the CO2 standards later in 2022 – will effectively predetermine the CO2 reductions that can be expected from road freight by the end of this decade.
ACEA also reiterates that the requirements of truck infrastructure are completely different to those for passenger cars – particularly with respect to location, space and minimum power output levels.
ACEA’s CV Board of Directors elects its Chairperson on an annual basis. Mr Lundstedt takes over the position from Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck.
Policy makers need to fully understand that setting AFIR targets for heavy-duty vehicles now, will effectively predetermine the CO2 reductions that can be expected from road freight by the end of this decade.
Notes for editors
- A fact sheet about the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and the infrastructure required for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks can be found at: https://www.acea.auto/fact/fact-sheet-alternative-fuels-infrastructure-regulation-heavy-duty-vehicles/.
About Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of Volvo Group
- Martin Lundstedt has been a member of the Executive Board of Volvo Group since October 2015. In parallel, he also acts as Chairman of the Board of Permobil AB, member of the Board of Autoliv AB, and member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA).
- Previously Mr Lundstedt was President and CEO of Scania (2012-2015). Prior to that, he held various managerial positions at Scania since 1992. He also was co-chairman of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (2015-2016) and a member of the Board at Concentric AB.
- Mr Lundstedt holds a Master of Science from Chalmers University of Technology.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is the Brussels-based trade association of the 14 major car, van, truck and bus producers in Europe.
- The ACEA commercial vehicle members are DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ford Trucks, Iveco Group, MAN Truck & Bus, Scania, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
- Contact: Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
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About the EU automobile industry
- 12.9 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 8.3% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €392.2 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total