Regarding the conflict in the Middle East, Scherer explained that the crisis and rising oil prices have not yet dampened demand. However, she noted that this becomes increasingly likely the longer the conflict persists. Furthermore, a shift toward stronger demand for electric trucks is not yet evident in Europe, despite the massive surge in diesel prices. The sluggish expansion of charging infrastructure - characterized by long wait times for permits for charging stations at freight forwarders' depots - remains a significant bottleneck.
In the US, electric trucks such as Daimler's eCascadia are becoming harder to sell following the Trump administration's pivot away from climate protection policies, according to CEO Karin Radström. The cost disadvantage compared to diesel trucks remains too substantial. As a result, the project for a group-wide battery platform was terminated in 2025. Through the US industry association EMA, Daimler has joined a lawsuit against federal climate protection regulations, drawing criticism from environmental groups. 'This should not be interpreted as us being against zero-emission trucks in the US,' Radström said. By challenging the stricter regulations in California, the company merely seeks legal clarity. She described it as a technical, rather than a political, step.
(Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, edited by Myria Mildenberger. For inquiries, please contact the editorial management at frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)
