• IKEA begins large scale electrification of heavy road freight in Italy, targeting more than 1.2 million zero emission kilometers annually.
• Collaboration with LC3 Trasporti and Mercedes Benz Trucks reflects growing private sector investment in supply chain decarbonization ahead of EU mobility targets.
• Expansion of the Mercedes Benz eActros 600 fleet highlights accelerating commercial adoption of battery electric freight solutions in Europe.
Italy Pushes Heavy Freight Electrification Forward
Inter IKEA Group has launched its first fully electrified heavy road transport initiative in Italy, signaling a deeper shift in how major retailers are tackling logistics emissions as European decarbonization policies tighten. The project, developed with long time logistics partner LC3 Trasporti and Mercedes Benz Trucks, begins operations in October and focuses on replacing diesel freight routes with battery electric alternatives across Northern Italy.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition among multinational companies that supply chain emissions are increasingly material to climate strategies, investor expectations, and regulatory compliance. Heavy road transport remains one of the most difficult segments to decarbonize, making electrification projects at scale a critical test of technology readiness and cost competitiveness.
Scaling Electric Freight Operations
The rollout begins with two battery electric trucks already in service, expanding to more than ten Mercedes Benz eActros 600 vehicles by the third quarter of 2026. These trucks will handle daily container transport to and from the ports of Genoa and La Spezia, linking maritime logistics with the Piacenza Distribution Center and supporting regular store deliveries throughout Northern Italy.
Once fully operational, the fleet is expected to exceed 1,200,000 kilometers of zero emission travel annually, eliminating direct CO2 emissions from these routes. For executives monitoring Scope 3 reductions, the scale of the mileage is significant. Logistics networks represent a major share of retail emissions, and electrifying long distance freight could materially shift corporate carbon trajectories.
Beyond emissions, the vehicles also produce zero noise output, allowing more efficient night time deliveries and addressing urban quality of life concerns. For local governments balancing economic activity with community impact, quieter freight operations could become an important policy incentive.
Partnership Model Signals Industry Shift
The collaboration between IKEA, LC3 Trasporti, and Daimler Truck Italia illustrates how cross sector partnerships are increasingly necessary to advance climate goals. Electrification at this scale requires alignment between fleet operators, technology providers, and corporate customers willing to invest in new logistics models.
“This is an ambitious project aimed at significantly reducing our transportation climate footprint in Italy. Thanks to this new triangle partnership we’re able to define the optimal set up together and come up with a solution that reduce the total costs, while also contributing to a cleaner and quieter environment, which is an essential part of our mission of creating a better everyday life,” said Ewelina Taylor, Global Transport Manager at Inter IKEA Group.
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For logistics providers, the shift is equally strategic. Electrification is moving beyond pilot programs into commercial deployment as companies prepare for stricter emissions regulations across Europe.
“This project marks a turning point for LC3 Trasporti. The energy transition is a challenge we have chosen to face with determination. The introduction of the eActros 600 in partnership with IKEA and Daimler Truck Italia demonstrates that collaboration across the supply chain is the only real driver of change. The time for isolated experiments is over what we need now are scalable, concrete, zero impact solutions,” added Michele Ambrogi, Commercial Director of LC3 Trasporti.
Technology manufacturers are positioning electric freight platforms as both climate solutions and operational upgrades. The eActros 600 represents a broader push by Daimler Truck to capture early market share as fleets transition away from internal combustion engines.
“The Mercedes Benz eActros 600 is the result of years of development aimed at radically transforming road freight transport,” concluded Maurizio Pompei, CEO Daimler Truck Italia. “Seeing it enter service in a project of this scale, alongside two forward thinking companies such as LC3 and IKEA, confirms that the energy transition is already happening. This is a virtuous example of how technological innovation can seamlessly align with environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.”
Governance And Investment Implications
For C suite leaders and investors, the project highlights how corporate logistics strategies are increasingly shaped by EU climate policy, energy transition funding, and rising expectations around supply chain transparency. Electrifying heavy freight not only reduces operational emissions but also mitigates regulatory risk as European mobility targets tighten toward 2030.
As retailers expand electric fleets, the initiative may also influence infrastructure investment decisions, from charging networks near ports to upgraded distribution hubs capable of supporting large scale battery operations.
In a sector historically dominated by diesel, IKEA’s move demonstrates how corporate procurement power can accelerate the commercialization of electric heavy transport. With global retailers under growing pressure to decarbonize end to end operations, Italy’s electrified logistics corridor could offer a blueprint for scaling zero emission freight across Europe and beyond.
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