MAHLE Backs Multi-Technology Path to Decarbonise Commercial Vehicles

German automotive supplier MAHLE has called for a technology-neutral approach to decarbonising road transport, saying battery-electric vehicles alone will not be enough to reduce emissions from the commercial vehicle fleet and that renewable fuels, hydrogen and range extender technologies must complement electrification.

The company made the remarks while unveiling its latest commercial vehicle technologies during its Media Tech Day 2026, where it introduced a new range extender system for battery-electric trucks and a rare-earth-free electric motor.

"Battery-electric vehicles, hydrogen and renewable fuels for internal combustion engines must be used together to reduce CO₂ emissions. Range extender systems should also be recognised pragmatically as a facilitator of electrification and taken into consideration in regulations," said Arnd Franz, Chairman of the Group Management Board and CEO of MAHLE.

Franz said commercial vehicle decarbonisation would require supportive regulations, charging infrastructure, hydrogen refuelling stations and economically viable energy storage solutions to ensure fleets can adopt cleaner technologies without compromising productivity.

According to MAHLE, internal combustion engines will continue to dominate the global commercial vehicle market over the next decade, with their share expected to decline only gradually from around 83% today to about 73% by 2035. The company said this makes renewable fuels such as HVO100 bio-diesel, bio-LNG and hydrogen critical for lowering emissions from both existing and new vehicles.

"It is clear that, in addition to electrification, supplies of sustainable fuels such as HVO100 and bio-LNG need to be massively expanded," Franz said.

The supplier also argued that range extenders could accelerate the transition to electric trucks by overcoming two of the biggest barriers to adoption, limited charging infrastructure and range anxiety. Its newly unveiled system combines a battery-electric drivetrain with a compact internal combustion engine that functions solely as a generator, enabling trucks to achieve a driving range of more than 800 km while reducing battery size and vehicle weight.

MAHLE's stance reflects a broader debate within the commercial vehicle industry, where manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly advocating multiple powertrain technologies instead of a battery-only strategy. While battery-electric trucks are expected to dominate urban and regional applications, hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, renewable fuels and range extenders are being explored for long-haul operations where charging infrastructure remains inadequate. The International Energy Agency has also noted that different zero- and low-emission technologies will be required across freight applications because operating requirements vary significantly by duty cycle and geography. 

The comments come as the Indian commercial vehicle industry continues to expand. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, domestic commercial vehicle wholesales rose 18.3% year-on-year to 264,831 units in the April-June quarter of FY2026-27, the highest-ever first-quarter sales. The growth was driven by replacement demand and stronger activity in mining and cement, while exports climbed 43.3% during the quarter. 

Retail demand has also remained healthy. Data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations showed commercial vehicle registrations continued to improve during the quarter, supported by infrastructure spending, replacement demand and improving freight movement, although dealers continued to highlight financing costs and regional demand variations as key watchpoints. 

Electric commercial vehicles continue to account for a small share of the overall Indian CV market. Industry participants say adoption remains concentrated in buses and light commercial vehicles used in urban logistics and public transport, while electrification of medium- and heavy-duty trucks is constrained by higher upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure and long-haul operating requirements. This is one of the reasons suppliers such as MAHLE are promoting technologies such as range extenders alongside battery-electric powertrains. 

MAHLE said it expects to grow faster than the commercial vehicle market over the next five years. The company said it sees significant opportunities in electrification products, including thermal management modules, electric fans, charging connection boxes, battery cooling plates and traction motors, while continuing to supply components for internal combustion engine vehicles. 

"The transformation to climate-neutral road transport is technically feasible and can also be accomplished economically. However, this will only be possible if industry, government and customers act together in a coordinated way," Franz said.