Manufacturers Demand Emergency Plan with Specific Aid for Industrial Vehicles and Buses

The industrial vehicle market is required to reduce its emissions by 45% by 2030, while in the case of buses, their emissions must be 100% zero emissions by 2035.

The heavy transport sector represents 4.8% of the GDP and 600,000 direct jobs in Spain, accounting for 96% of all freight transport in the country, according to industry data. However, despite its significant role in the Spanish economy, its fleet has an average age of 15 years, compared to 9.5 years in France or 10.6 years in Germany, according to Anfac.

With these figures in mind, the Manufacturers Association has called for an emergency plan with specific aid for the heavy vehicle and bus sector.

This request was made by the president of this association, José María Recasens, during the second consecutive year of the Anfac Forum for Industrial Vehicles and Buses, which this year was titled "Let's Transport Change".

"Last year, Anfac presented a 2024-2026 roadmap for industrial vehicles and buses, yet the current results show little compliance," Recasens emphasized.

For the executive, "the transition to zero-emission mobility is a shared goal, although the path is not the same for everyone. Industrial vehicles and buses are not just means of transport: they are work tools." However, for Recasens, the decarbonization of heavy transport "still does not occupy the space it deserves in public debate, despite increasing demands on the sector and its users. Decarbonization must go hand in hand with competitiveness: it is not just about sustainability or emission reduction, but also about technology. It is a unique opportunity for Spain to establish itself as a technological hub, leveraging the potential of connectivity and automation in the field of industrial vehicles and buses."

The president of the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers highlighted that last year, Anfac presented the 2024-2026 Roadmap for Industrial Vehicles and Buses and called for greater public-private collaboration: "We developed a plan with realistic measures and a clear objective: to advance towards ambitious decarbonization commitments. But, a year later, the reality is that compliance with these measures has been scarce. From the sector, we do not ask for impossible solutions, but tangible support to accelerate decarbonization with the same level of effort applied to passenger cars."

According to Recasens, "that is why we appeal for decisive collaboration with the automotive and road transport industry. Administrations must be partners in this challenge, enabling transporters to renew their fleets safely and without losing competitiveness. Forgetting road transport would be a strategic mistake, with serious consequences such as job loss and industrial sovereignty."

Subsequently, José López-Tafall, Anfac's general director, took the floor to address the challenges and key points to accelerate the decarbonization of land transport during his speech. López-Tafall also emphasized that the transition to zero-emission mobility cannot be approached uniformly: "Industrial vehicles and buses are not like passenger cars, and therefore, the impact of this transformation on their competitiveness is much greater. Although the European roadmap is already set, requiring a 90% emission reduction by 2040 for industrial vehicles and 100% by 2035 for urban buses, the current pace is not aligned with these goals. The sector understands and shares these targets, but we must be realistic. We are progressing, but not at the pace or with the force required."

López-Tafall also referred to the 2024-2026 Roadmap for Industrial Vehicles and Buses, warning of the urgency to address this transformation. "A year later, we still lack an aid plan for heavy vehicles, with no response to our claims and no signs of change. It is necessary for the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to establish a new aid plan for heavy transport, improving both the economic allocation and the efficiency of the aid. Europe's message is clear: there is no turning back. The new regulatory framework they are working on not only incentivizes but also penalizes those who do not adapt."

Currently, the industrial vehicle market has grown by 12%, with 32,141 units registered in 2024, a 31% increase compared to 2019. In the case of the bus market, last year's growth was 15.9%, with 4,369 vehicles registered compared to 3,769 in 2023. Its growth compared to the year before the pandemic is 24.9%.