European Trailer manufacturers are currently uniting against, what they term flawed European legislation.

In Europe, 30 leading CEOs signed a petition against the EU’s Regulation 2024/1610 and its flawed VECTO simulation tool.

Because trailers lack engines, manufacturers argue the rules penalize them for direct emissions that don’t exist and mandate unrealistic 2030 targets.

EU CO₂ Regulation and VECTO

Top European manufacturers including Schmitz Cargobull, Krone, and Fliegl) argue the EU’s carbon reduction framework is a fundamental misinterpretation of how trailers work.

The EU uses a simulation tool called VECTO to measure trailer CO₂ emissions, but makers state the methodology produces inaccurate results that could force unviable designs and actually increase emissions.

Under current legislation, from 2030, manufacturers face massive penalties of €4,250 per vehicle for exceeding fleet targets.

The European coalition is petitioning for the Article 15 review to be moved up to 2026, the overhaul of the VECTO system to account for real-world zero-emission tractors, and a moratorium on the financial penalties.