On 10th December 2021, Daimler Truck became an independent company following a spin-off from Daimler AG. Daimler AG rebranded itself as Mercedes-Benz on 1st February 2022. To reflect this development, InfluenceMap’s scoring has combined data analyzed for Daimler prior to this date with data analyzed for Daimler Truck after 10th December 2021.

Climate Lobbying Overview: Daimler Truck has mixed to negative engagement with climate policy in the EU and United States in 2021-22. The company appears to have opposed state-level policies to advance zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the US, while advocating for measures to support EV infrastructure expansion. Daimler Truck holds memberships to a mix of regressive industry associations in Germany, India, the US and the EU, as well as several more positive European industry associations.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Daimler Truck appears to support a CO₂-neutral transport industry by 2050, as stated on its website in February 2022. It also appears to support carbon pricing, as indicated by a February 2022 Tweet from the company’s CEO, Martin Daum. Its corporate website in 2022 also expresses support for the goals of the Paris Agreement. In May 2022, Daimler Truck appeared to advocate for EU-level regulation to respond to climate change, such as EV charging and hydrogen infrastructure and a CO2-oriented vehicle tax and toll.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In the US, in a May 2022 consultation response, Daimler Truck appered to oppose a proposal in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Clean Trucks Plan” that would tighten “Phase 2” GHG emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles from 2027-2029 for certain vehicle categories, appearing instead to advocate for longer-term "Phase 3" standards that would likely not come into force until 2030.

Prior to the Daimler Truck spin-off, Daimler AG appeared to show mixed levels of support for GHG emissions standards for road transport. A July 2021 Daimler press response to the EU Fit for 55 package, which includes a 2035 zero-emissions target for light-duty vehicles, took an unclear position on the policy, with the company’s development chief stating that a zero-emissions 2035 target is very ambitious. Daimler AG’s 2021 CDP response disclosed that regarding EU CO2 standards "any tightening of current CO2 targets should be accompanied by ambitious binding targets for infrastructure (charging and H2) on EU member states level".

Daimler Truck’s CEO, Martin Daum, has shown support for a carbon tax, advocating for its implementation in a February 2022 Annual EVision Event discussion. Daimler Truck also appears to support a carbon tax on diesel fuel, as indicated on its corporate website in February 2022. In an April 2021 Independent media report, Daimler AG called on European policymakers to boost incentives for climate-neutral technologies, including taxing carbon and emissions trading. Daimler AG also appeared to support an expansion of renewable energy in the energy mix, calling for a massive acceleration of capacity build-up of renewable energy in Europe in a Joint CEO letter to the EU Commission. A July 2021 Daimler AG tweet further seemed to advocate for a 55% 2030 EU GHG emissions target.

Positioning on Energy Transition: In the US, Daimler Truck has opposed the adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) rule, which requires manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission trucks, in numerous states. This includes Colorado in a December 2021 working group meeting and an April 2022 consultation response submitted by the Partners for a Zero-emission Vehicle Future (PZEVF) coalition, of which Daimler Truck is a member. The company also opposed the adoption of the rule in Oregon in an October 2021 email, New Jersey in a June 2021 consultation response and a July 2021 joint letter signed by PZEVF, found via FOIA request. Daimler Truck also opposed New York’s adoption of the rule in a November 2021 oral testimony and a consultation response from the PZEVF coalition, both found via FOIA request. The company appeared to oppose the ACT rule more broadly in April 2022 public comments from the PZEVF coalition to the Clean Air Association of the Northeast States.

In a January 2022 US consultation response, Daimler Truck North America appeared to support measures towards the electrification of transportation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including the expansion of EV charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including school buses.

Industry Association Governance: Daimler Truck has not disclosed its membership to industry associations on its corporate website, neither has it published a review of its alignment with its industry associations. Daimler Truck’s CEO, Martin Daum, is on the Board of Directors at the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). The company is a member of several regressive trade associations including the German Automotive Association (VDA) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), where its subsidiary, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, is a member. In December 2021, a Daimler Truck senior executive disclosed being the Chair of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), which has negative engagement with climate policy in the US. Daimler Truck is also a member of Hydrogen Europe and Eurelectric, both of which appear to have broadly positive engagement on climate regulation.