Fabio, you have been Head of Strategy & Business Opportunities at the TRATON GROUP since the beginning of June. What excites you about the role?
I’m joining the company at a pivotal moment, as we shape the most significant transformation since the invention of the diesel engine at MAN. This alone is a huge source of motivation. Beyond that, I’m inspired by the fact that our shift towards electromobility is having a tangible, positive impact on the environment.
As one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers, we hold significant influence over the future of the transport sector. Our key challenges lie in accelerating our electrification strategy and strengthening our market position, while also bringing our brands closer together to maximise economies of scale.
What does TRATON’s electrification strategy look like in concrete terms?
We are firmly convinced that the future belongs to battery-electric drivetrains, which is why we are investing over €2.1 billion across our brands into electromobility by 2029.
Our electrification strategy is built on three key pillars. First, we’re electrifying our entire product portfolio with the TRATON Modular System, allowing us to scale efficiently. Second, we’re establishing our own battery production network, with facilities in Södertälje and Nuremberg, where we will initially produce 50,000 battery packs per year, enough for around 10,000 heavy-duty trucks. Finally, we’re making substantial investments in charging infrastructure, particularly through our joint venture Milence and TRATON Charging Solutions, as we work to create a Europe-wide network of fast-charging stations.
What makes you so certain that the future belongs to electric drivetrains?
Our customers need to make money with their vehicles, which means the most efficient technology will ultimately prevail. For nearly all applications, that technology is battery-electric trucks. E-trucks are not only easier to maintain but also more energy-efficient than their diesel or hydrogen counterparts. In most applications and regions, we foresee cost advantages for e-trucks in the near term, particularly in long-haul transport, where energy cost savings are especially significant.
Clean hydrogen, by contrast, has roughly three times lower efficiency than direct electrification, meaning energy costs for hydrogen will remain far higher than for clean electricity in the long term. Additionally, the perceived “convenience advantages” of hydrogen are shrinking, thanks to fast charging and the continued improvements in battery technology.
What are your biggest challenges in Europe right now in transitioning to e-mobility?
Electric trucks must be both profitable and practical. On the profitability side, in many applications, cost parity with diesel trucks has already been reached. To accelerate demand, we now need stronger incentives for transport customers to opt for zero-emission freight. Public procurement could play a key role here, setting an example by purchasing sustainable transport services.
The bigger challenge lies in practicality, as the usability of electric trucks is heavily reliant on charging infrastructure. While progress has been made, there is still significant room for improvement, both in public fast charging and depot charging. The AFIR regulation, which mandates a charging network along European highways and major roads by 2030, is a step in the right direction, but progress is lagging in countries like Italy and Poland. Currently, less than 30% of the charging points required by the EU for 2027 are operational. The EU must ensure these targets are met and enforced. Additionally, AFIR needs to be updated to reflect the latest vehicle developments, with a greater focus on ultra-fast megawatt charging.
Depot charging infrastructure is expanding at an even slower pace, primarily due to slow approval processes and grid expansion. TRATON is calling for a support programme for fleet depots, reduced bureaucracy, and more dynamic grid connections. We can only meet our CO₂ targets if the necessary infrastructure is expanded across Europe.
What is the environmental potential of electrifying heavy-duty transport?
Trucks are responsible for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions. In the EU, emissions from heavy trucks are set to be reduced by 43% from 2019 to 2030, and by 90% by 2040. Electrification plays a key role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. It benefits both the environment and people, as electric trucks generate lower noise levels and fewer emissions, making cities, communities, and roads safer and more sustainable for residents and drivers alike.
And what about the economic side?
The numbers are compelling: by 2035, electrifying heavy-duty transport could generate savings of around €50 billion annually, with approximately €10 billion of that in Europe. The operational costs for electric transport are significantly lower for fleet operators, reducing the overall cost of transporting goods and ultimately benefiting consumers.
In the coming years, I am confident that when we look at the roads, we’ll see trucks that are quiet, clean, and proudly bearing the names of TRATON brands. This is the vision I will work toward every day.
