MAN wants to sell up to 30,000 electric trucks by 2030

But the people of Munich believe they are on the right path. In Austria, where MAN is the market leader with a share of more than 30 percent, a total of around 300 e-trucks were registered in the first three quarters of 2025 – around 20 percent of them from MAN.

“Austria is a role model,” says Zohm. The high proportion of renewable energies in the electricity mix and attractive subsidies made the country an ideal test market. The breakthrough is still a long time coming. E-trucks are hardly visible on Austria’s highways – also because they can hardly be distinguished from diesel vehicles on the outside.

“You will only notice this in the street scene when the market share for electric trucks is around five percent,” explains Zohm.

120.000 Kilometer

The numbers speak for themselves: with an annual mileage of 120,000 kilometers, operating an e-truck costs around 80,000 euros per year – including electricity, tolls and maintenance. A comparable diesel costs around 140,000 euros.

“The trucking companies that move forward more decisively can gain these advantages,” says Zohm. Particularly attractive: If you charge with photovoltaics in your own depot, your electricity costs are just 10 to 15 cents per kilowatt hour. A clear advantage over the diesel price of two euros. Nevertheless, many freight forwarders are hesitant.

“They don’t change a switch in one day,” says the head of technology. The transformation requires investments in charging infrastructure, workshop conversions and employee training. Large numbers of large customers in Austria still rely on diesel – but they also often test trucks with battery-electric drives. But there would be a game changer for ramping up electric truck fleets: the end of the night driving ban on certain routes.

E-trucks are around twelve decibels quieter than diesel trucks – to the human ear that means half as loud.

“That’s why there shouldn’t be a ban on driving at night for electric trucks,” says Zohm. This could lead to a breakthrough, especially for the heavily used north-south route through Tyrol, especially on the Brenner route. “This is an advantage that politicians should actively promote,” demands the manager.

MAN also sees potential in other segments. Production of electric coaches is scheduled to start in 2026 – ideal for Austrian ski tourism. In the city bus sector, 70 to 80 percent of all tenders in Europe concern fully electric vehicles; in Austria, MAN recently secured orders for 63 e-city buses.

Even fire engines are to follow – in cooperation with a “large and well-known Austrian company”.

Two major orders

MAN secured a major order for 1,200 trucks, which will be delivered up to and including 2028, from a well-known shipping company in Upper Austria.

The Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) joint venture landed another major order: RMMV will deliver up to 1,375 vehicles from the HX, TGS and TGM series to the Austrian Armed Forces over a period of seven years. However, these vehicles are only equipped with combustion engines.