Author: Ryan Whitmore

Traton, the commercial vehicle group majority-owned by Volkswagen, has raised 850 million euros ($920 million) through green financing instruments to support its transition from diesel-powered trucks and buses to battery-electric drivetrains. The company said the financing includes its first-ever green bond worth 500 million euros as well as a separate green loan valued at 350 million euros. See also: Traton Secures €500 Million EIB Loan to Advance Modular Truck Platform Traton introduced its Green Finance Framework in October 2025, allowing investors to support projects linked to battery-electric commercial vehicles and related infrastructure. According to the company, the framework covers the…

The European Union has officially relaxed interim carbon dioxide emissions rules for heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers, a move that clean transport think tank International Council on Clean Transportation warned could significantly reduce electric truck adoption across Europe. The changes entered into force following publication of the amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 in the Official Journal of the EU. See also: ICCT Study: Europe to Require Up to 5,300 Megawatt Chargers for Electric Trucks by 2030 Under existing EU climate rules, manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles must reduce average CO2 emissions from new trucks by 15% by 2025, 45% by 2030, 65% by…

California electric freight services company WattEV said it has ordered 370 Tesla Semi trucks, in what the company described as the largest single electric truck purchase in California. The announcement comes shortly after Tesla began production of the Semi at its Nevada manufacturing facility, where the first production truck recently rolled off the assembly line. See also: WattEV Expands San Bernardino Electric Truck Depot to Meet Rising Zero-Emission Freight Demand WattEV said deliveries of the first 50 trucks are expected to begin in 2026, while the full fleet is scheduled to enter operation by the end of 2027. The company…

Two U.S. logistics operators have placed orders for a combined 60 Tesla Semi vehicles through electric fleet services provider Forum Mobility, as the company expands its shared charging infrastructure network for commercial fleets. California-based Big F Transport plans to deploy 40 Tesla Semi trucks, while Nica Container Freight Line will add 20 units to its operations. Both companies intend to charge the trucks at Forum Mobility’s planned charging hub in Rancho Dominguez, California. See also: Tesla Launches Megacharger and Depot Charging Program for Semi Truck Fleets Forum Mobility is positioning itself as a full-service provider for electric trucking fleets, offering…

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport has launched a €1 billion funding program aimed at accelerating the expansion of charging infrastructure for battery-electric heavy-duty commercial vehicles across the country. The initiative, which will run over four years, targets both companies installing charging systems at private depots and operators developing publicly accessible charging stations for electric trucks. The ministry has simultaneously opened three separate funding calls as part of the scheme. See also: Germany Launches €220 Million Hydrogen Funding Call for Trucks and Refuelling Network The program forms part of Germany’s Master Plan for Charging Infrastructure 2030, which seeks to significantly expand…

E.ON has partnered with Neot and its shareholder Mitsui & Co. to introduce a subscription-based model for electric truck charging infrastructure across Europe. The initiative is designed to lower entry barriers for fleet operators transitioning to electric commercial vehicles by replacing upfront infrastructure investments with recurring payments. Customers can choose between fixed pricing per kilowatt-hour or a flexible “Time-of-Use” tariff structure. See also: BMW and E.ON Launch Commercial Vehicle-to-Grid Offering for Neue Klasse EVs in Germany E.On said the offering combines Charging-as-a-Service with optional Truck-as-a-Service, allowing operators to access both charging infrastructure and electric vehicles through a single package. “European…

Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corporation said they have completed the merger of Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors under a new holding company, Archion, which is now listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The transaction concludes a process first announced in May 2023, aimed at combining the two Japanese commercial vehicle brands to improve efficiency across development, procurement, logistics, and production. The integration also covers electrification programs, including models such as the Fuso eCanter and Hino Dutro ZEV. Archion holds 100% of the shares in both Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino, while Daimler Truck and Toyota each retain approximately 25% ownership…

German commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus has begun series production of its fully electric Lion’s City E bus at its plant in Ankara, marking the addition of a third production site for the model. The company clarified that the move does not represent the start of production for the electric bus itself, which has been in operation across Europe for several years, with around 3,300 units delivered to date. However, this is the first time the Lion’s City E has been manufactured in Türkiye. The Ankara facility joins existing production sites in Starachowice, where the model has been…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has appointed Marcus Ekman as its new Head of Development, effective October 1, as the company continues its transition toward electrification and advanced vehicle technologies. Ekman will succeed Rainer Müller-Finkeldei, who is set to retire at the end of July 2026 after more than three decades with the company. Ekman joins from Volvo Group, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President of Truck Quality. Mercedes-Benz Trucks said Ekman brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience in commercial vehicle development, product engineering and quality management. Earlier in his career, he held various roles at Scania before…

UK-based electric fleet leasing company Zenobē said it will invest AUD 100 million ($100 million AUD) in Australia to accelerate the deployment of electric trucks and associated infrastructure. The company aims to more than double the number of heavy-duty electric trucks in the country from around 1,000 today to 2,000 by the end of 2026, positioning the sector for broader adoption as aging diesel fleets are replaced. See also: EU and Australia Strike Trade Deal to Boost EV and Battery Supply Chains “With 56 per cent of Australia’s truck fleet now more than a decade old, operators are increasingly making…

Ford Pro has introduced a new all-electric van, the Ford Transit City, aimed at cost-conscious customers operating in urban environments, as the automaker broadens its electric commercial vehicle portfolio. The Transit City, set to launch later this year, will be offered exclusively as a battery-electric vehicle, marking a departure from Ford’s usual “e-” naming convention used for models such as the Ford e-Transit Custom and Ford e-Transit Courier. According to the company, the omission reflects the model’s electric-only positioning. “We understand the needs of our cost-conscious customers, particularly those operating in urban environments,” said Simon Robinson, Chief Engineer of the…

Swiss technology company Suncar has introduced a new megawatt charging interface designed for installation on electric commercial vehicles, aiming to simplify adoption of the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standard among manufacturers. The product, named Megaflow1500, is intended to address a perceived gap in the development of MCS, a global standard currently under development for ultra-fast charging of heavy-duty vehicles and machinery. While industry efforts have largely focused on charging infrastructure, Suncar said vehicle-side integration remains less developed. “So far, discussions often focus on charging infrastructure outside the vehicle. In this area, the market already offers various solutions,” the company said.…