Clean Corporate Vehicles initiative – EuroCommerce contribution to the Call for Evidence

The European retail and wholesale sector supports the European Commission’s ambition to make the transport sector more climate-friendly and sustainable, provided that the right preconditions are in place and the framework allows our sector to contribute effectively to this green transformation. We remain committed to decarbonisation, as long as the process ensures that EU legislation is consistently aligned with market-based, technology-neutral, and investment-friendly conditions, so that the sustainable transformation of the transport sector succeeds while safeguarding the long-term competitiveness of Europe’s retail and wholesale sectors. 

Our sector is a key player in Europe’s decarbonisation efforts, as demonstrated by its ongoing initiatives to reduce emissions. As one of Europe's strategic sectors, retail and wholesale create over 10% of EU GDP and provides an essential service to millions of businesses and individual customers. Our sector generates 1 in 7 jobs, many of them young people. Additionally, we create millions of indirect jobs throughout the supply chain, from small local suppliers to international businesses. Therefore, retailers and wholesalers are playing an important role in boosting the competitiveness and sustainable development of the EU Single Market, bringing affordable innovation to over 400 million consumers.  

The Clean Corporate Vehicles initiative and the forthcoming legislative proposal are highly relevant for our sector. European retailers and wholesalers rely on a broad fleet of corporate vehicles, ranging from heavy-duty trucks to passenger cars, to meet diverse operational needs and ensure the smooth functioning of their activities.