In a joint letter to the EU Commission, the coalition writes that the deadline is “not just feasible but necessary” if the EU is to meet its climate neutrality commitments by 2050.
The target would also help to provide investment certainty for vehicle manufacturers to increase their electric and green hydrogen offerings, the companies write.
Major truckmakers have already announced that half of their sales will be zero emission by 2030, but binding rules are needed to ensure that investments and the ramp-up of supply happen on time.
In October this year, electric vehicle specialists Tesla announced that it would start production on a fully electric lorry with a range of up to 500 miles.
The firm first announced its intentions to produce such a vehicle in 2017, although it has only become a commercial reality this month.
The coalition says some niche vehicle categories, such as construction trucks, could be given until 2040 to comply with mandatory zero...