(1)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) sets out the CO2 targets for new heavy-duty vehicles. Those targets form a key part of the Union framework to reduce by 2030 net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % below 1990 levels and to reach economy-wide climate neutrality by 2050.

(2)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 sets progressively stricter CO2 emissions reduction targets for manufacturers. Those targets provide long-term certainty and predictability for investors along the value chain, while allowing sufficient lead-in time for a just transition towards climate neutrality. It is therefore essential that the level of the CO2 emissions reduction targets established under Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 remain unchanged.

(3)

In order to facilitate compliance with the targets applicable as of 2030 and in light of the delay in the deployment of the public charging infrastructure along motorways for heavy-duty vehicles, manufacturers should be able to generate more emission credits before that year, which might also incentivise the earlier deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles.

(4)

During the reporting periods of the years 2025 to 2029, manufacturers should collect emission credits if their specific CO2 emissions are below the specific CO2 emissions target rather than below the CO2 emissions reduction trajectory.

(5)

As the deployment of zero-emission urban buses is already advanced and their use is not negatively affected by a possible lack of public charging infrastructure along motorways, this Regulation should not apply to urban buses.

(6)

Since the objective of this Regulation to provide vehicles manufacturers with an additional flexibility for their compliance, while maintaining the level of ambition of the CO2 reduction targets, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, but can rather, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

(7)

Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

In Article 7(1), point (a) is replaced by the following:

;

(2)

Annex I is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.