The extension of the toll exemption for zero-emission trucks until June 30, 2031—passed by the German Bundestag in mid-November—has now been officially published in the Federal Law Gazette. This allows the regulation to take effect in the new year. With this move, the German Bundestag is providing the electric commercial vehicle industry with significantly more planning certainty, as the previous exemption was set to expire at the end of 2025.

In parallel, the toll system is slated for modernization. Starting in 2026, a new app-based booking system ("smartphone tolling") will be introduced to supplement the previously required On-Board Units.

Together with logistics partner VEGA International, MAN Truck & Bus is moving toward an intermodal delivery concept. The main leg of the journey from the factory in Krakow, Poland, to the Rheine rail terminal will be handled by rail, while the "last mile" will be covered fully electrically by a MAN eTGX e-truck.

Following successful field tests with two eTGX units, another 30–40 eTGX trucks are scheduled to be integrated into this process by the end of 2026. The goal is to distribute approximately 30–40 factory-new trucks emission-free every week within a radius of about 300 km from the rail terminal. According to MAN and VEGA, this concept is expected to save around 2,700 metric tons of CO₂ annually.

E.ON, Voltix, and GreenWay have launched a major infrastructure initiative. Under the HDV-E project, a European megawatt charging network for heavy-duty transport is set to be established by fall 2028. The partners plan to install around 330 charging points featuring the new high-performance Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology along key European transport corridors.

The planned charging points will be distributed across 55 strategic locations in nine countries—including Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Each location is designed to offer at least four charging points, each capable of delivering at least one megawatt of power for battery-electric trucks.

The electric Ford E-Transit Custom van and its passenger variant, the E-Tourneo Custom, are getting a battery update. The usable battery capacity is being increased from 64 kWh to 70 kWh.

This update is expected to boost the range to up to 370 kilometers—an increase of about 50 km compared to the previous 337 km. Charging speeds are also set to improve: at a 125 kW DC fast charger, the state of charge will go from 10% to 80% in approximately 29 minutes—around ten minutes faster than before. Already delivered vehicles will also benefit; a software update is expected to reduce charging times by about one-third.

The Port of Hamburg is launching PortConnect, an ambitious digitalization project to optimize personnel planning. Starting in 2026, an AI-based system will forecast staffing needs based on data from port operations, cargo handling volumes, ship arrivals, and terminal utilization. For the first time, this will utilize a shared data basis across multiple operators (including Gesamthafenbetriebs-Gesellschaft mbH [GHB], HHLA, EUROGATE, and the HVCC Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center).

The system will include algorithm-supported shift and personnel allocation, a digital ordering process between port operators and GHB, a digital "Shift Marketplace" in the GHB app, and a dashboard visualizing key operational metrics. The goal is to make personnel deployment more flexible, efficient, and transparent. For the mathematical optimization, the consortium is collaborating with the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services (CML). The research institute is tasked with developing models for demand forecasting, shift planning, and resource allocation, while the technical implementation of the software is being handled by P.L.I. Solutions, specialists in workforce management.