The European heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) market showed promising growth in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) during the second quarter of 2024, according to the latest report from the International Council on Clean Transportation. However, the pace of adoption raises questions about whether the transition is happening fast enough to meet ambitious climate targets.
While the market expanded by 12% compared to the first quarter, with ZEVs securing 4.1% of all HDV sales, up from 3.2% in the previous quarter, the overall figures remain modest. Germany, the region’s powerhouse, continued to lead in zero-emission HDV sales, capturing 32.2% of the market with 1,282 units sold. Nevertheless, the broader adoption across Europe is not yet at a scale commensurate with the urgency of the climate crisis.
Market Dynamics: Incremental Progress but Persistent Challenges
The second quarter of 2024 saw the registration of nearly 98,000 HDVs in the EU-27. Germany, France, and Italy were the top markets, with sales shares increasing by 2.3%, 1.2%, and 1.5%, respectively, compared to the first quarter. Mercedes-Benz led the market with a 21% share, followed by MAN (13.8%), IVECO (13.5%), Scania (12.5%), Volvo (11.7%), DAF (9.7%), and Renault (7.1%). Despite these gains, the market’s reliance on traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles remains high, indicating a need for more aggressive policy interventions and incentives to accelerate the shift to ZEVs.
Heavy Trucks: Steady Growth but Slow Pace
Heavy trucks, defined as those with a gross vehicle weight above 12 tonnes, accounted for 75.2% of all HDV sales. Of the 74,000 heavy trucks sold, 916 were ZEVs, representing a 1.2% market share—a 20% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024. While this growth is encouraging, it falls short of the rapid transformation needed to decarbonise the sector effectively.
Volvo Trucks maintained its leadership in the zero-emission heavy truck market with a 43.5% share, driven by strong sales of the 4×2 FM and FH models. Renault and Mercedes-Benz followed with 17.3% and 14.8% market shares, respectively. Germany led in sales of zero-emission heavy trucks, capturing 37% of the market with 335 units sold. However, the overall market share of ZEVs in this segment remains marginal, highlighting the need for more robust policy support and technological advancements.
Light and Medium Commercial Vehicles: Promising Trends but More Needed
Light and medium commercial vehicles, with a gross vehicle weight between 3.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes, represented 14.6% of all HDV sales. Of the 14,292 vehicles sold, 1,447 were ZEVs, accounting for 10% of the segment’s sales—a significant increase over the first quarter, when 928 ZEVs were sold, representing 8.4% of the market.
Ford led the zero-emission light and medium commercial vehicle market with a 41.5% share, driven by the 4×2 axle Ford Transit. IVECO followed closely with more than one-third of all ZEV sales in this segment, primarily driven by its 4×2 axle Iveco Daily. While these figures are promising, the overall market share of ZEVs in this segment is still relatively low, underscoring the need for more aggressive measures to drive adoption.
Buses and Coaches: Electrification Gains but Market Share Declines
Buses and interurban coaches represented 10.2% of all HDV sales in the second quarter of 2024. Of the 9,976 buses sold, 1,722 were ZEVs, accounting for 17.2% of total sales—up from the first quarter when ZEV buses were 12.4% of sales. However, the overall market share of zero-emission buses and coaches declined from 16% in the first half of 2023 to 15% in the first half of 2024, raising concerns about the pace of electrification in this segment.
Yutong and Mercedes-Benz led in zero-emission bus sales, with shares of 20.8% and 14.8%, respectively. Mercedes-Benz also led the ICE bus market, holding a 27.2% share. City buses continued to lead in the adoption of ZEVs, with battery-electric city buses accounting for 40% of city bus sales, with 1,616 registered units in the second quarter of 2024. Despite these gains, the overall market share of ZEVs in this segment remains modest, highlighting the need for more concerted efforts to drive adoption.
Conclusion
The European HDV market is undergoing a transformative shift towards zero-emission technologies, but the pace of adoption is not yet commensurate with the urgency of the climate crisis. While manufacturers are investing in innovative solutions like hydrogen ICEs, the overall market share of ZEVs remains modest. To accelerate the transition, policymakers must implement more aggressive measures, including incentives, regulations, and infrastructure investments.
