#ACEATRUCKTALKS – Mastering the transition to zero-emission vehicles in commercial road transport
In the final 2025 edition of #ACEATruckTalks, voices from the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) industry, finance and policy analysts came together to discuss the key challenges for the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). With ambitious CO2 targets approaching, HDV manufacturers find themselves at a critical moment, navigating significant regulatory pressure while facing market conditions that are still far from supporting a fast transition.
Moderated by Thomas Fabian (Chief Commercial Vehicles Officer at ACEA), the discussion brought insights from Jennie Cato (Chief Public Affairs Officer, TRATON Group), Colin McKerracher (Head of Clean Transport & Storage, BloombergNEF), and Matthias Kässer (Partner – Lead of Commercial Vehicles segment EMEA, McKinsey & Company).
Panelists underlined that the industry remains ambitious, with a broad range of zero-emission trucks already meeting real-world operational needs. They noted that the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) parity still varies significantly across Europe, with many markets continuing to favour conventional diesel trucks. Speakers stressed the urgent need for a major scale-up of both private and public truck charging by 2030 to close the infrastructure gap. The discussion also highlighted the strategic advantages enjoyed by non-European competitors in areas such as batteries, energy prices and R&D—advantages that European manufacturers do not currently share to the same extent.
Throughout the session, speakers stressed the importance of policy in creating the enabling conditions needed to accelerate the ZEV transition. They called on the EU to provide clearer guidance on incentives and stronger support for the practical measures that will drive deployment. The priority should be closing the gaps in TCO competitiveness and infrastructure, with both market forces and targeted strategic support playing a crucial role.
In the final 2025 edition of #ACEATruckTalks, voices from the heavy-duty vehicle industry, finance and policy analysts came together to discuss the key challenges for the transition to zero-emission vehicles. With ambitious CO2 targets approaching, HDV manufacturers find themselves at a critical moment, navigating significant regulatory pressure while facing market conditions that are still far from supporting a fast transition.
