Daimler Truck CEO Rådström warns of existential threat to European commercial vehicle industry

The Daimler Truck CEO lays out the specifics: If the company misses its targets by ten percentage points, "verdienen wir mit dem Segment Mercedes-Benz Trucks praktisch kein Geld mehr". The segment posted operating profit (EBIT) of 922 million euros in 2024 and 698 million euros in 2025, on revenues of roughly 20 billion euros in both years. For each missed percentage point, Daimler Truck would have to pay around 120 million euros.

Electric share of heavy trucks still only at two percent

According to Rådström, the starting point for the electrification of heavy trucks is sobering. In 2025, just two percent of all heavy trucks in Europe were electric. To achieve the planned 43 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 2019, her calculations show that around 35 percent of all newly registered heavy trucks in Europe would need to be battery-electric or hydrogen-powered by 2030.

"Von zwei Prozent im Jahr 2025 auf 35 Prozent im Jahr 2030 zu gelangen, ist eine wirklich große Herausforderung", Rådström said. "Es ist noch zu früh zu sagen, dass wir die Ziele ändern müssen", she emphasized at the same time. Due to the slow build-out of infrastructure and the lack of willingness on the part of important EU member states to introduce CO2-differentiated truck tolls, the industry needs more time.

Call for a reality check

Rådström identified the lack of charging infrastructure as the biggest problem for electromobility in trucks. "Das größte Problem bleibt die Infrastruktur und das Laden", she said. In addition, diesel remains economically sensible for many haulage customers. "Diesel ist vergleichsweise keine teure Energiequelle", the manager explained. "Sie können sich keine teuren Experimente leisten", she said, referring to the often thin margins of transport companies.

Rådström therefore calls for a fundamental review of the regulation. "Wir fordern eine Überprüfung der CO2-Regulierung. Das muss ein Realitätscheck sein", the CEO said. Daimler Truck is pushing to tie the targets to the ramp-up of infrastructure and to significantly accelerate the expansion of the charging network.

Background: High emissions share of heavy trucks

The background to the debate is the high share of heavy commercial vehicles in EU greenhouse gas emissions. According to the European Commission, heavy commercial vehicles are responsible for more than 25 percent of road transport greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and account for more than 6 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The requirement of a 43 percent reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 is the trigger for the current debate.

In addition to her role as Daimler Truck CEO, Rådström is also chair of the Commercial Vehicle Board at the European manufacturers' association ACEA. The company itself is headquartered in Leinfelden-Echterdingen near Stuttgart and is listed on the DAX; the Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand is active in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to the company. On the stock market, Daimler Truck was rated "Outperform" by RBC Capital Markets on July 3, 2026 and "Overweight" by Barclays Capital on July 7, 2026.

Politically, Rådström still sees room for improvement. She does not believe policymakers have understood the urgency, the manager said. At the same time, she did not rule out a change to the targets themselves: more time is needed, but any adjustment to the regulation must be well thought out so as not to jeopardize the European commercial vehicle base.

The Daimler Truck CEO is not alone in her warnings. The debate over the feasibility of the CO2 targets for heavy trucks is likely to intensify in the coming months in Brussels, Berlin and other EU member state capitals – particularly because, in parallel, the introduction of CO2-differentiated truck tolls is stalling in several countries.