The Urgent Fleet Renewal Plan is one of the most relevant programmes of the moment for the professional road transport sector. Promoted by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMA) and financed by European Next Generation EU funds, its objective is clear:
➡ To reduce polluting emissions and modernise an ageing and inefficient vehicle fleet.
But how does it really work, who benefits, and what impact is it already having on the sector? We explain.
What is the Urgent Fleet Renewal Plan?
It is a public programme that offers economic incentives to:
✔ Scrap old trucks (registered before 2019).
✔ Subsidise the purchase of new commercial vehicles with sustainable technologies (electric, liquefied natural gas – LNG, hydrogen).
✔ Financing infrastructures: recharging points or auxiliary facilities at logistics bases.
Why is this so important for the transport sector?
1. An ageing vehicle fleet = more risks and emissions.
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Average age of road tractors: 8.1 years.
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Rigid trucks: almost 15 years old.
This means:
❌ More breakdowns.
❌ More pollutant emissions.
❌ Higher maintenance costs.
❌ Higher risk of incidents.
2. Strict European obligations
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Mandatory 15% reduction of CO₂ emissions by 2025.
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Tougher targets by 2030 and 2040.
If the fleet is not renewed, penalties and restrictions will increase year by year.
3. Dynamisation of the sector and technological modernisation.
This plan promotes:
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The purchase of low-emission vehicles.
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Investment in hydrogen and electric vehicles.
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The growth of suppliers and specialised workshops.
What is the current situation?
▶ High demand for scrapping:: Grants for retiring old trucks have been exhausted in several autonomous communities.
▶ Low use of subsidies for new vehicles: Only 1 out of every 5 euros of the budget is being used to buy new vehicles.
Why? Bureaucracy, long deadlines and fear of profitability.
▶ Large fleets are taking advantage of the plan: SMEs, for the moment, are lagging behind. Faconauto and sector associations call for urgent simplification.
What does the plan need to work better?
1. Maintain the budget and expand it if necessary.
2. Automate the collection of subsidies instantly on purchase.
3. Include the latest generation of diesel vehicles to replace older ones.
4. Improve charging and refuelling infrastructures, especially for long routes.
5. Extend tax incentives for professional fleets.
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