Volkswagen and MAN Lead the Shift to Electric Freight Transport

Volkswagen Group Logistics and MAN present their eTruck progress in Munich, showing real-world results and cooperation driving Europe’s zero-emission transport future.

Volkswagen Group Logistics and MAN Truck & Bus are taking another decisive step toward zero-emission freight transport. At the E-Experience Event in Munich, the two companies brought together logistics providers, charging infrastructure manufacturers, and customers to demonstrate how electric trucks are already reshaping European logistics.

Simon Motter, Head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, said that the electrification of road transport is at the core of the goTOzero impact logistics strategy, aimed at minimizing the carbon footprint of all transport operations. Diesel trucks remain the largest source of CO₂ emissions in land logistics, while battery-electric vehicles have emerged as the most effective and mature solution for reducing environmental impact.

MAN, currently the only manufacturer offering electric lowliner trucks — the eTGX and eTGS — showcased strong progress: over 1,000 orders and more than five million kilometers covered in daily European operations. The trucks’ modular battery design allows operators to balance range and payload, meeting over 80 percent of all transport needs from construction to automotive logistics.

Among MAN’s customers are Dachser, DB Schenker, Duvenbeck, Müller Fresh Food Logistics in the Netherlands, and Norway’s Nor Tekstil. German haulier Nanno Janssen, who already operates 35 electric trucks, said that long-distance transport with eTrucks is now a practical reality.

MAN Sales Director Friedrich Baumann noted that charging infrastructure remains the critical bottleneck. The company is investing in high-capacity charging networks through partnerships with E.ON and the Milence joint venture, which plans to install around 1,700 high-power charging sites across Europe. Germany has extended its toll exemption for zero-emission trucks until 2031 — an important measure providing long-term planning security for fleets.

Both MAN and Volkswagen Group Logistics emphasize that a sustainable transport transition will require close collaboration between manufacturers, logistics operators, and energy providers. Electric trucks are already proving their reliability and cost-effectiveness — and within a few years, they could become the new standard in European freight transport.