Italy Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market Overview, 2030

Italy’s medium and heavy-duty truck market has undergone visible transformation in response to EU decarbonization mandates, domestic emission control strategies, and rising urban freight needs. The segment was long dominated by diesel-based vehicles from Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, and Scania, but since 2021, electrification and alternative fuel integration have reshaped product development. Iveco launched its battery-electric eDaily and co-developed a heavy-duty fuel-cell electric truck with Nikola Corporation, marking key milestones in product innovation. Other major OEMs operating in Italy, including DAF and MAN, have introduced electric and low-NOx powertrains with regenerative braking, ADAS-based safety features, and fleet management telematics. The market shift is largely regulated under European Commission’s Euro VI norms, while local restrictions like Area C and Area B in Milan, and emission-based access limits in Rome, Turin, and Bologna, create pressure to upgrade fleets. Vehicle certification follows EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval, managed in Italy through the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti, requiring emissions testing, conformity assessments, and safety compliance. Italy also follows the EU Mobility Package, which sets driving limits, cab design standards, and cross-border operation rules. Government policies play a direct role in fleet renewal through Ecobonus incentives, offering grants for scrapping old diesel trucks and switching to electric or LNG models, with subsidies reaching €24,000 per vehicle. Differences from countries like France and Germany include lower density of hydrogen refueling infrastructure and regional variations in tax rebates. EU-aligned tax relief, reduced tolls for green trucks and VAT benefits are also available.

According to the research report ""Italy Medium and Heavy-Duty Truck Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the Italy Medium and Heavy-Duty Truck market was valued at more than USD 4.74 Billion in 2025. This market is driven by Italy’s transition toward energy-efficient freight transport, strict air quality rules in urban zones, and rising demand from e-commerce, construction, and agro-logistics sectors together reshaping the structure of production, sales, and competition in the country’s medium and heavy-duty truck industry. Domestic truck manufacturing centers in Turin, Brescia, Piacenza, and Bolzano serve as hubs for assembling chassis, axles, battery packs, fuel tanks, and high-strength steel cabins, using raw materials imported largely from Germany, France, and Eastern Europe. OEMs like Iveco, Daimler Truck Italia, and Scania Italy operate multi-shift assembly lines, while drivetrain, braking, and electrical components are sourced from regional suppliers and fitted on modular vehicle platforms. Trucks are distributed through nationwide dealership networks, government procurement programs, and B2B leasing firms, with strong retail activity in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto. Sales surged in 2023 for CNG and electric trucks in Milan and Bologna due to ZTL emission restrictions. Logistic firms, public works contractors, agricultural cooperatives, and municipal fleets remain the biggest customers. Construction, food transport, retail delivery, and sanitation services all rely heavily on this segment for movement of bulk goods, machinery, perishables, and municipal waste. Mergers such as Iveco-Nikola’s fuel cell venture and DAF’s integration with Paccar Parts Italia have raised the bar for electrification and aftermarket service, intensifying competitive pressure on local and Asian brands. Market leaders focus on telematics integration, TCO-based pricing, and direct leasing to dominate fleet conversions. Meanwhile, startups like RePower eTrucks and e-mobility software firms have received backing from CDP Venture Capital and private equity, fostering innovation in EV retrofitting, modular battery tech, and digital maintenance services.

Medium-duty trucks (3.5 to 16 tonnes) are widely used for inner-city logistics, municipal services, and regional retail delivery, especially in dense urban areas like Milan, Florence, Bologna, and Rome where traffic restrictions and low-emission zones limit diesel access. These trucks, including models like the Iveco Eurocargo Natural Power and Mercedes-Benz Atego, are increasingly shifting toward electric and CNG variants to comply with ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) regulations. Applications range from supermarket restocking and postal deliveries to utility maintenance and refuse collection, supported by regional fleet incentives and city-level procurement contracts. In contrast, heavy-duty trucks (above 16 tonnes) dominate long-haul, cross-border, and construction-related operations. These trucks operate along Italy’s north-south freight corridors such as the A1 Autostrada (Milan to Naples) as well as international routes toward Austria, Slovenia, and France. Popular models include the Iveco S-Way, Scania R-series, and Volvo FH, which offer high torque performance, fuel efficiency, and growing electric and LNG variants for compliant long-distance hauling. Heavy trucks are essential for bulk transport of raw materials, machinery, timber, and construction aggregates, with ports like Genoa and Trieste acting as key logistics nodes. With the rise of decarbonization targets, both classes are seeing upgrades in smart tech such as over-the-air diagnostics, fleet management software, and ADAS. Italy’s government and EU-backed incentives are pushing fleets to adopt cleaner vehicles, especially medium-duty trucks in urban zones and heavy-duty models with LNG or battery platforms for industrial routes.

Internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks, primarily diesel-powered, continue to dominate heavy-duty logistics, construction, and long-distance haulage. Models like the Iveco S-Way Diesel, DAF XF, and MAN TGX are favored for their range, payload capacity, and wide refueling infrastructure, particularly along national routes and cross-border corridors through Austria and Slovenia. Euro VI engines are standard, with features such as SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and particulate filters ensuring emission compliance. Electric trucks, however, are gaining momentum in the medium-duty category, especially for operations within ZTL zones in cities like Milan, Bologna, Rome, and Florence. The Iveco eDaily, Renault D Z.E., and Volvo FE Electric are being adopted for urban delivery, waste collection, and short-haul logistics, supported by incentives under Italy’s Ecobonus scheme and EU recovery funds. These vehicles offer low noise, regenerative braking, and lower operating costs, although infrastructure gaps and high upfront costs limit widespread heavy-duty adoption. Charging stations are expanding slowly in industrial areas and freight hubs, with strong policy push from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Other propulsion types, including compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and hydrogen fuel cell, form a small but growing share. Iveco’s Natural Power series leads the CNG segment, used in retail distribution and sanitation fleets in northern regions like Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. LNG trucks, offered by Volvo and Scania, serve long-distance freight along the A1 and A22 corridors due to increasing LNG refueling points. Hydrogen trucks, though still in pilot stages, are being explored by regional transport agencies and ports.

In Italy’s medium and heavy-duty truck market, segmentation by body type directly corresponds to varied applications across logistics, construction, municipal, and agricultural sectors. Rigid trucks are widely used in urban freight delivery, municipal operations, and short-distance commercial services. These vehicles such as the Iveco Eurocargo and DAF LF are preferred for their compact frames, tighter turning radii, and compatibility with electric and CNG powertrains, especially in low-emission zones like Milan’s Area B or Rome’s restricted central districts. Rigid trucks are commonly deployed for supermarket restocking, parcel delivery, road maintenance, and waste collection. Tractor-trailers and articulated trucks dominate long-haul and cross-border transportation in Italy, moving heavy loads like industrial equipment, containerized freight, and agricultural produce. Operating on corridors such as the A1 Autostrada and routes connecting to Austria, France, and Slovenia, these configurations typically the Iveco S-Way, Scania R-series, and Volvo FH offer enhanced payload capacity, modular trailer options, and ADAS-equipped cabs for fleet safety and efficiency. Tipper and dump trucks serve key roles in Italy’s construction and infrastructure sectors, especially in fast-developing areas like Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. These trucks are used to transport aggregates, soil, and demolition waste to and from sites for projects involving roadworks, high-speed rail lines, and urban redevelopment. With reinforced chassis and multi-axle configurations, models like the MAN TGS and IVECO Trakker handle off-road terrain and bulk movement. Other body types include refrigerated trucks for food and pharmaceutical transport, tankers for fuel and liquid goods, flatbeds for machinery haulage, and mobile cranes used in port and event logistics. Body type choices directly influence vehicle performance, compliance strategy, and end-use efficiency. As low-emission regulations expand and digital logistics mature, Italy’s body-type preferences are shifting toward electrified rigid trucks for cities and smart articulated platforms for long-range freight.

Logistics and transportation account for the largest demand, with articulated and rigid trucks operating along national corridors like the A1, A14, and A22 autostrade to move goods between urban centers, ports, and EU borders. Fleets managed by operators such as Arcese, FERCAM, and Bartolini use trucks for e-commerce distribution, industrial supply chains, and cross-border freight to Austria, France, and Slovenia. In urban areas like Milan, Rome, and Bologna, medium-duty electric trucks are increasingly deployed for last-mile deliveries due to ZTL (limited traffic zone) regulations. Construction and mining sectors, especially active in Lombardy, Veneto, and Piedmont, use tippers, dump trucks, and heavy rigid vehicles to support roadworks, rail projects, tunnel construction, and quarry operations. Companies engaged in infrastructure expansion and civil engineering requires high-payload trucks with off-road mobility and reinforced bodies. Agriculture and forestry, particularly in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Apulia, rely on medium-duty flatbeds, tankers, and refrigerated trucks for transporting produce, livestock, timber, and fertilizers. These trucks support Italy’s wine, dairy, and fruit industries, enabling short-haul rural connectivity and export logistics. Utility and municipal services across cities and towns use a fleet of rigid trucks, many powered by CNG or electric engines, for waste collection, sewerage, firefighting, and electrical maintenance. Municipalities like Florence and Turin are investing in clean-fleet replacements under national sustainability grants. Other end users include fuel distributors, event logistics, mobile health services, airport operators, and telecom maintenance firms each requiring specialized trucks like cranes, tankers, or mobile platforms.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Vehicle Class
• Medium (3.5 to 16 Tonnes)
• Heavy (16 Tonnes and Above)

By Propulsion
• ICE
• Electric
• Other

By Body Type
• Rigid Trucks
• Tractor-Trailers / Articulated Truck
• Tipper / Dump Trucks
• Other

By end users
• Logistic transportation
• Construction and Mining
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Utility And Municipal
• Other Show more