About Alexander Vlaskamp
Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, has been publicly promoting the company's transition to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and calling for political support to build the necessary charging infrastructure. In April 2025, at the inauguration of MAN's battery plant in Nuremberg, Vlaskamp announced an additional investment of around 150 million euros in module production, bringing total investment at the site to 250 million euros. He stated that the innovation of battery-electric trucks and mega-charging columns already exists, but what is missing is the non-innovative work of building the grid with cables and transformer houses, which requires long-term investment and political action. He also appealed for a CO2 review for heavy trucks and criticized that a previous government did not respond to industry calls to direct half of a toll increase into charging infrastructure and e-truck subsidies.
Vlaskamp has consistently argued that battery-electric drives are the superior solution for commercial vehicles. In a 2022 interview, he stated that BEV trucks are coming and will remain for decades, making them a secure investment for infrastructure and grid operators. At the IAA Transportation 2022, he said that battery-electric power is more efficient and cheaper than hydrogen, and that green hydrogen should be prioritized for industrial uses like steel production. He projected that by 2030, 40 to 50 percent of MAN's new truck registrations in Europe would be battery-electric, corresponding to around 40,000 trucks. In 2023, he participated in a test drive of the new MAN eTruck in Munich with Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder, and in South Africa he handed over the first MAN Lion's Explorer electric buses to Golden Arrow Bus Services, describing the event as a milestone for electrifying Africa.
Source: AI-verified profile updated from Alexander Vlaskamp's recent appearances.
Browse all interviews →
Transcript (2 segments)
A
Alexander Vlaskamp2:15
Welcome, esteemed ladies and gentlemen and colleagues. I am very pleased to be here today at the Olympic Park in Munich to greet you and to announce that we have taken the first official drive with the MAN truck on public roads. This is another milestone on the way to series production of our truck, which we will start producing in Munich in 2024 and then hand over to customers. Just recently this truck and its siblings survived over 10,000 km under extreme conditions, from minus 40 degrees to summer heat. The location of our test drives has historical significance for MAN's electrification: in 1972 during the Olympics, athletes were shuttled in two MAN electric buses. Those buses paved the way for e-mobility. Since 2020 we have marketed our e-buses, and about 450 are already in use in Europe. We have over 1,000 orders for e-buses. We are preparing our Munich truck plant for electrification; by 2025 at least 2,500 trucks should roll off the line, and by 2030 about 50% of new truck registrations in Europe should be battery electric, corresponding to around 40,000 trucks at MAN. These trucks will be equipped with about 100,000 batteries from our Nuremberg plant. The e-truck will achieve daily ranges of 600 to 800 km initially, and from 2026 up to 1,000 km. With the planned CO2-based truck toll, it will be economically viable to drive electric trucks as early as the mid-2020s. We need sufficient high-performance charging stations along highways and at logistics hubs. With the joint venture of Traton, Daimler, and Volvo, we are part of the solution; at least 1,700 charging points are planned, but Europe needs around 50,000. The current Euro 7 proposal is counterproductive and would slow the path to zero emissions; we need synchronization of CO2 regulation and Euro 7 towards 2030. I thank those who have worked for a sensible synchronization. The legal framework sets the stage for our success, which is and will be 'Made in Bavaria' with the eTruck. Thank you.
B
Bavarian Minister President8:33
My distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to follow MAN's invitation today. Bavaria is an automotive hub for trucks as well as cars, and we saw during the pandemic how vital trucks are. MAN is a Bavarian company, so we supported it, for example with high financial contributions for the production facility in Nuremberg. Today's event is special: ten years ago people doubted the e-truck, but MAN has achieved a huge leap. This will fundamentally change freight transport. However, we need proper framework conditions: first, enough charging points. Bavaria has many but still needs to catch up; Germany has spent too little on charging infrastructure. Second, we need a massive increase in electricity availability. The current energy policy will not cover demand, leading to economic problems. Third, timing must be right – don't tighten regulations before the infrastructure is ready. Toll revenues must be invested in transport infrastructure, not disappear into the budget. Prosperity is at stake; loss of growth leads to social tensions. I fully support MAN's efforts. I remember the old trucks; the new ones are a huge improvement – from difficult clutches and steering to a luxury cab. It's a remarkable development. My thanks to MAN for staying in Bavaria and developing new technologies. We will politically accompany this transition. Congratulations and good luck.
