CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles: EP adopts flexibility measur

On Thursday, MEPs adopted a targeted change to existing rules, offering heavy-duty vehicles’ manufacturers additional flexibility to comply with the 2030 CO2 emissions target.

With 473 votes in favour, 81 against and nine abstentions, MEPs supported the Commission’s proposal on the calculation of emission credits for heavy-duty vehicles for the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2029.

The current rules require that the annual EU fleet-wide average CO2 emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles are reduced progressively in five-year intervals. They allow manufacturers to collect emission credits if their specific CO2 emissions are below the CO2 emissions reduction trajectory.

The proposed change provides manufacturers with an additional flexibility, allowing them to collect more emission credits in the years before 2030, which then can be used for compliance in the years after.

To speed up its adoption, Parliament agreed on Tuesday to deal with the file under its urgent procedure.

Next steps

To enter into force, the draft law now requires formal approval by the Council, which endorsed the same text on 18 February 2026.

Background

The proposal is part of the Commission's automotive package, announced on 16 December 2025, to support the sector's efforts in the transition to clean mobility. The package provides more flexibility to manufacturers and it responds to calls by EU industry to simplify rules.