Berlin, Germany – Daimler Truck CEO Karin Rådström yesterday met with Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder in Berlin to exchange about the decarbonization of the transportation sector. The meeting highlighted the need for close cooperation between industry and policymakers to swiftly advance and scale up technology and infrastructure. On site, Daimler Truck presented the new Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 Truck, developed in part with funding from the Federal Ministry of Transport as well as the states of Rhineland‑Palatinate and Baden‑Wuerttemberg. Powered by liquid hydrogen, the fuel cell truck achieves ranges of well over 1,000 kilometers when fully loaded, making it particularly suited for flexible and demanding long‑distance transport. A small series of 100 such trucks will be manufactured at the Daimler Truck production site in Woerth am Rhein (Rhineland‑Palatinate) and gradually rolled out for customer deployment planned from the end of 2026 onwards.

Trucks and buses keep Germany and Europe moving – they are the backbone of logistics and passenger transport. Daimler Truck therefore emphasizes the importance of the commercial vehicle industry in achieving climate targets as well as the necessity of a coordinated market ramp-up of green drive technologies. This requires a regulatory framework that links CO₂ targets with the expansion of charging and hydrogen infrastructure. Accelerated political measures are needed to ensure that customers can operate new vehicles as economically as conventional models. A good example is the extension of the toll exemption for zero-emission trucks in Germany until mid-2031. This now provides companies with planning certainty and makes the switch to zero-emission trucks attractive. What is now important is implementation across Europe. In addition, decarbonization must be driven forward as quickly as possible through an efficient combination of battery-electric and hydrogen-‑based technologies to safeguard Europe’s competitiveness.

When it comes to fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, Germany and Europe are at strategically significant crossroads. A well-established fuel cell industry with numerous small and medium‑-‑sized suppliers forms the basis for technological leadership, reduces dependency on Asian suppliers, and strengthens European value creation. In the field of electrolysis, Europe is also in a leading position with relevant large-scale projects and several major hydrogen companies based here. Germany is also one of the key locations in the emerging field of liquefaction technology. This presents a historic opportunity: new markets can be opened up across the entire value chain, jobs can be created, and geopolitical risks can be reduced. The prerequisite is a clear political framework that enables investment and provides planning and market certainty—ensuring Europe retains its competitive edge.