ECG has conducted the Confidence & Cost Trends Survey every quarter since 2010 among its members. Today, ECG represents the interests of over 200 member companies and partners.
According to the survey results from the third quarter of 2024, executives were willing to invest (85%) in means of transport that would decrease the logistics sector´s environmental footprint. That represents a significant increase from 42% in Q3 2020.
At the same time, factors that may limit investment opportunities are on the rise. The lack of confidence in projected volumes, driven by more intense and rapid market fluctuations, and the absence of long-term contracts are the most frequently mentioned reasons that hinder necessary investments into eco-friendly technologies.
Despite the strong willingness to invest there are doubts regarding the risks because of the uncertain economic times. In particular the automotive industry is affected by a phase of transformation and the need for decarbonization, facing stricter emission rules. Not only the cars have to be decarbonized, but there is also pressure to rapidly reduce emissions in supply chains.
Collaboration is crucial to navigate economic storms and reach set emission goals. ECG is the platform in the FVL industry that enables collaboration between all stakeholders to achieve common goals more efficiently and quickly.
The question is, what happens if we fail to collaborate? One consequence is clear: common goals, such as decarbonization, will not gain the necessary speed to achieve the challenging targets.
Wolfgang Göbel, president ECG Comments: “The industry is used to operate in a cyclical market environment. What we recognise now is a structural change to sustainable but reduced volumes in Europe in what has become an extremely challenging market for our customers. ‘Efficiencies first’ is now the focus and ECG is ready to support the industry with a growing ecosystem including: measurement and cost indications for transformation, technology evaluation and pilots, and enabling rail for a better comeback being some examples. Most importantly, ECG provides a platform to collaborate.”
The ECG Conference 2024, “Powering the Future: Collaboration Moves Us Forward,” is hosted in Hamburg, Germany, 24-25 October 2024. Fleet Transport will be there!
