Key data
| Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2026/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 29 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Modified regulation | Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 (CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles) |
| Publication | 7 May 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified in the published text |
| Affected periods | Reporting years 2025 to 2029 |
| Affected parties | Truck and bus manufacturers operating or selling in the EU |
| Category | European Regulation |
Heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers operating in the European Union face an urgent regulatory change. Regulation (EU) 2026/1046, published on 7 May 2026, changes the rules for calculating CO2 emission credits applicable to the reporting periods of 2025 to 2029. This is not a minor change: it directly affects how manufacturers can offset their emission excesses and, therefore, their exposure to the risk of penalties.
The regulation modifies Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, which is the reference framework for CO2 emission performance standards for trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles. Any manufacturer selling or manufacturing in the EU must be aware of this change before finalizing their industrial and commercial planning for the period.
What does this regulation establish?
The emission credit system is the mechanism that allows manufacturers to manage their regulatory compliance flexibly over time. Rather than requiring exact compliance in each year, the system allows offsetting emission excesses in certain years with reductions achieved in others within the regulated period.
Regulation (EU) 2026/1046 specifically modifies the method for calculating those credits for the reporting periods 2025 to 2029. The stated objective of the modification is to adjust the regulatory framework to the current reality of the zero and low-emission heavy-duty vehicle market, recognizing that this market has evolved since the original 2019 Regulation was approved.
| Aspect | Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 (original) | Regulation (EU) 2026/1046 (modification) |
|---|---|---|
| Credit calculation method | Original framework approved in 2019 | Method adjusted to the reality of the zero and low-emission vehicle market |
| Affected periods | General multi-year framework | Specifically the reporting periods 2025 to 2029 |
| Market context | Heavy-duty electric vehicle market in initial phase | Market with greater penetration of zero and low-emission vehicles |
Economic and operational impact
The change in credit calculation has direct consequences on manufacturers' bottom line and strategic planning. Emission credits are not a mere accounting technicality: they determine whether a manufacturer is in compliance or at risk of penalty.
- Risk of significant financial penalties for manufacturers that fail to meet emission targets in the 2025-2029 periods, as expressly established by the regulation.
- Need to review regulatory compliance strategy, as the calculation method previously applied changes with effects on periods already underway (2025).
- Impact on planning of electric and low-emission fleets: the number of zero-emission vehicles a manufacturer must introduce to the market to generate sufficient credits may vary with the new calculation method.
- Impact on industrial and commercial planning for the sector for the 2025-2029 period, with possible adjustments in production volumes, product mix and sales strategy.
Who does it affect?
The regulation has a specific and defined scope of application:
- Truck manufacturers operating or selling in the European Union.
- Bus manufacturers operating or selling in the European Union.
- Manufacturers of other heavy-duty vehicles subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242.
- Compliance and regulatory departments of automotive groups with presence in Europe.
- CFOs and strategic planning directors of manufacturers with exposure to EU emission targets.
- Legal advisors and sustainability consultants supporting manufacturers in their decarbonization strategy.
Transport fleet operators and logistics companies are not direct obligated subjects of this regulation, but may be indirectly affected by changes in the supply of low-emission heavy-duty vehicles that manufacturers introduce in response to the new framework.
Practical example
A European truck manufacturer that in 2025 has an excess of CO2 emissions relative to its annual target can use credits generated by the sale of electric or hydrogen trucks to offset that excess and avoid penalties. With Regulation (EU) 2026/1046, the value or calculation method of those credits changes compared to what the original Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 established.
This means that the same volume of electric truck sales may generate a different number of credits under the new method. If the new calculation is less favorable for certain types of low-emission vehicles, the manufacturer will need to sell more units of that type to achieve the same level of coverage against its excesses. If it is more favorable, it could have greater room for maneuver.
Since the affected periods include 2025—a year already underway at the time of publication of the regulation—manufacturers must immediately review whether their credit position calculated under the previous method is maintained, improved or worsened under the new method.
What should companies do now?
- Review the current position of emission credits under the new calculation method of Regulation (EU) 2026/1046 for the 2025-2029 periods, comparing with the previous calculation under Regulation (EU) 2019/1242.
- Evaluate the impact on the regulatory compliance plan for each of the years in the 2025-2029 period, identifying whether there is a risk of credit deficit under the new method.
- Review the planning for the introduction of zero and low-emission vehicles to the market, adjusting volumes and product mix if the new calculation alters the number of credits generated by each unit sold.
- Coordinate with legal, financial and product departments to align compliance strategy with the new regulatory reality before finalizing the industrial and commercial plans for the period.
- Consult the full text of Regulation (EU) 2026/1046 in the EU Official Journal to identify the technical details of the new calculation method and its specific implications for each vehicle category.
- Activate monitoring of possible implementing acts or technical guidance that the European Commission may publish for the practical application of the new calculation method.