With a high-profile SOS campaign in Burtenbach, Kögel is drawing attention to the impact of the EU’s VECTO regulation on the transportation industry. Bavarian Deputy Minister-President Hubert Aiwanger also attended the event. He supports the trailer manufacturer’s call for technically achievable CO₂ targets to safeguard jobs, industrial value creation, and Germany’s competitiveness as a business location.

VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool) is a European Union calculation model that assigns a virtual CO₂ value to semi-trailers. It is based on Regulation (EU) 2024/1610, which stipulates that this simulated value must decrease by 10 % for semi-trailers and by 7.5 % for trailers by 2030.
From the industry’s perspective, this creates a fundamental problem: semi-trailers have no propulsion system of their own and do not generate any direct CO₂ emissions themselves. The assessment is based on a simulation rather than on actual emissions measured during operation. It ignores physical limitations and the real-world transportation task.

Possible consequences: fines, higher vehicle prices, and job losses

According to Kögel and all leading European trailer manufacturers, the required reduction targets cannot be achieved with the technical capabilities available today. This would result in fines of up to 64 million euros per year for the company. To offset this burden, prices for semi-trailers could rise by up to 50 percent. The consequences will then be felt throughout the entire supply chain—from transportation companies to end consumers. Industry-wide, the impact is significantly greater: a total of around 70,000 jobs in the European trailer industry are affected by the consequences of the current regulation.

Investments at the Burtenbach site at risk

In recent years, Kögel has invested several million euros in its Burtenbach facility. These include the production line for a new refrigerated truck and the expansion of the plant grounds to accommodate an additional production hall. These investments and the long-term development of the site are now at risk due to the economic consequences of the VECTO regulation.
Bavaria’s Deputy Minister-President, Huber Aiwanger, has a clear opinion on this: „The last thing the trailer and logistics industry needs in these times is additional burdens from unrealistic and excessive regulations from Brussels. Our companies must not be burdened unreasonably. Small and medium-sized enterprises in the industry do not have unlimited financial or technological resources to absorb nonsensical regulatory burdens at short notice. For them, the EU requirements for CO₂ reductions from trailers pose an acute threat to their economic survival—with direct consequences for thousands of jobs. Instead of looming fines, we need pragmatic and realistic solutions that deliver real CO₂ reductions.“

Eight manufacturers are suing over the EU regulation

Eight European trailer manufacturers have filed a lawsuit against the VECTO regulation. Their goal is to have the regulation revised in its current form. The lawsuit is not directed against climate protection, but against requirements that they consider unworkable. „We’ve already done a lot in this regard,“ says Markus Siegner, CEO of Kögel Trailer GmbH. „Our durable, lightweight vehicles have been
contributes to reducing fuel consumption and, consequently, CO₂ emissions in the transportation sector. The current VECTO regulation ignores the realities of the transportation industry and puts companies like Kögel under immense pressure. We need pragmatic solutions that combine climate protection with competitiveness.

Call for Realistic Climate Goals

With its symbolic SOS campaign in Burtenbach, Kögel is calling for a review of the VECTO regulation. In the company’s view, the support from Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger and the lawsuit filed by the eight manufacturers demonstrate the need for action. Kögel remains committed to sustainability, climate-friendly transportation solutions, and innovation. However, this requires regulatory requirements that are technically feasible and economically viable.

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Your contact for this press release:

Isabell Unseld
Public Relations Manager
Phone +49 151 40203941
Isabell.Unseld@koegel.com