Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, is setting ambitious goals for its future in Europe. Karin Radstrom, the head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and soon-to-be leader of the entire Daimler Truck Group, announced on Monday that the company aims for electric trucks to make up 50% of its European sales by 2030.
Radstrom disclosed this target during a press conference at the IAA Transportation trade fair in Hanover. She revealed that Daimler Truck plans to sell up to 30,000 electric trucks in Europe by the end of the decade, marking a significant push towards electrification in the commercial vehicle sector. “Hopefully we’ll be so good that we can do even more,” Radstrom added, expressing optimism about exceeding the goal.
The company is gearing up to commence production of its first fully-electric heavy truck, the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600, this November. The new model has already garnered 2,000 pre-orders, reflecting strong early interest.
However, Daimler Truck faces several hurdles in achieving its ambitious targets. The European truck market is currently subdued, with challenges stemming from ongoing shortages of chips and other essential parts, which have driven up production costs. Additionally, the trucking industry grapples with the need to reduce emissions while contending with logistic firms that are hesitant to invest in electric trucks due to incomplete charging infrastructure.
Outgoing CEO Martin Daum voiced concerns about the market’s outlook, indicating that he expects no significant improvement in the European truck market in the first half of 2025. Despite these challenges, Daimler Truck remains committed to its electrification strategy as part of a broader effort to meet evolving environmental standards and market demands.