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REPORT (COM(2023)0088) – C90025/2023 – 2023/0042(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles and integrating reporting obligations, and repealing Regulation (EU) 2018/956

A-9-2023-0313

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Bas Eickhout

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal to strengthen CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles. It raises the 2035-2039 reduction target to 70%, extends targets to vocational vehicles and small lorries, and sets a zero-emission mandate for urban buses. It removes the zero- and low-emission vehicle incentive from 2030, extends emission credits to 2039 with debts cleared in 2029, 2034 and 2039, and allows transfers of retrofitted zero-emission vehicles. It requires the Commission to convene a Zero-Emission HDVs Forum, propose binding zero-emission mandates on large fleet operators by 30 June 2024, and review the regulation by 31 December 2027. It adds sustainability and security-of-supply criteria to public procurement of urban buses, with weightings of 15-35% and 15-40%, and caps third-country products at 50% of tender value.

Committee position. The committee proposes to strengthen the Commission's CO₂ targets for heavy-duty vehicles, extend them to vocational vehicles and small lorries, set a zero-emission mandate for urban buses, remove the ZLEV incentive from 2030, and add procurement and infrastructure measures.

Key points

  1. The average CO₂ emissions of the Union fleet of new heavy-duty vehicles must be reduced by 70% for the reporting periods 2035 to 2039, compared to 2019.
  2. CO₂ reduction targets apply to vocational vehicles such as garbage trucks, tippers and concrete mixers, and to small lorries with a maximum mass lower than 5 tonnes.
  3. A mandatory minimum share of new zero-emission urban buses is set, with a temporary derogation possible for urban areas with biomethane investments, ending by 2035.
  4. The zero- and low-emission vehicle incentive factor ceases to apply to low-emission heavy-duty vehicles from 2025 and is fully removed from 2030.
  5. Emission credits can be acquired in reporting periods 2019 to 2039 and used for compliance in the following five years; unused credits expire after five years.
  6. Manufacturers must clear all remaining emission debts in the reporting periods of 2029, 2034 and 2039.
  7. Transfers of zero-emission vehicles between non-connected manufacturers, and of existing vehicles retrofitted to zero-emission, are allowed, capped at 5% of new registrations.
  8. Public procurement for urban buses must include sustainability and security-of-supply criteria, with sustainability weighted 15-35% and security of supply 15-40% of award criteria.
  9. The proportion of products or tenders originating in third countries may not exceed 50% of the tender's value.
  10. The Commission must convene a Zero-Emission HDVs Forum within 6 months of entry into force, and each year thereafter, to work on recharging and refuelling infrastructure.
  11. By 30 June 2024, the Commission must propose binding zero-emission mandates on large fleet operators, considering regional disparities and infrastructure deployment.
  12. The Commission must review the regulation by 31 December 2027, assessing registrations, infrastructure, employment impacts, and the exemption for manufacturers producing few vehicles.

Who is affected

  • Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers, who must meet stricter CO₂ reduction targets and clear emission debts by 2029, 2034 and 2039.
  • Large fleet operators, who may face binding zero-emission mandates proposed by 30 June 2024.
  • Public authorities procuring urban buses, who must apply sustainability and security-of-supply weightings and a 50% third-country cap.
  • Urban areas with biomethane investments, which may request a temporary derogation from the urban bus target until 2035.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises in the automotive supply chain, whose transition impacts must be assessed in the review.

Figures and deadlines

  • 70% reduction target for all vehicle sub-groups for reporting periods 2035 to 2039.
  • 5% cap on zero-emission vehicles transferred to a manufacturer not belonging to a connected group.
  • Sustainability weighting of 15 to 35% of award criteria in public procurement.
  • Security of supply weighting of 15 to 40% of award criteria in public procurement.
  • 50% maximum proportion of third-country products or tenders in a tender's value.
  • Deadline of 30 June 2024 for a Commission legislative proposal on zero-emission mandates for large fleet operators.
  • Deadline of 31 December 2027 for the Commission's review report.
  • Deadline of 31 December 2026 for a Commission report on a common Union methodology for full lifecycle CO₂ emissions.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.