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1. Member States shall vary infrastructure charges and user charges for heavy-duty vehicles in accordance with this Article. Member States shall apply that variation to the sub-groups of heavy-duty vehicles covered by Article 2(1), points (a) to (d), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, at the latest two years after the publication of the reference CO2 emissions for those vehicle sub-groups in the implementing acts adopted in accordance with Article 11(1) of that Regulation.

For CO2 emission classes 1, 4 and 5, referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, that variation shall apply to the groups of heavy-duty vehicles not covered by Article 2(1), points (a) to (d), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, at the latest two years following the publication of the reference CO2 emissions in implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article, for the relevant group. Where point 5.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 is amended by a Union legislative act in such a way as to cover the reference CO2 emissions relevant for a group of heavy-duty vehicles, such reference CO2 emissions shall no longer be determined pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article but in accordance with point 5.1 of Annex I to that Regulation. Where emission reduction trajectories for groups of heavy-duty vehicles not covered by Article 2(1), points (a) to (d), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1242, are determined by a Union legislative act amending point 5.1 of Annex I to that Regulation, the variations for CO2 emission classes 2 and 3, as defined in paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply from the date of entry into force of the new emission reduction trajectories.

Without prejudice to the reduction of rates provided for in paragraph 3, Member States may provide for reduced rates of infrastructure or user charges, or exemptions to pay infrastructure or user charges for zero emission vehicles of any vehicle group from 24 March 2022 until 31 December 2025. From 1 January 2026, such reductions shall be limited to 75 % compared to the charge applicable to CO2 emission class 1, as defined in paragraph 2.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, Member States shall establish for each type of heavy-duty vehicle the following CO2 emission classes:

(a) CO2 emission class 1 – vehicles that do not belong to any of the CO2 emission classes referred to under points (b) to (e);

(b) CO2 emission class 2 – vehicles of the vehicle sub-group sg registered for the first time in the reporting period of the year Y with CO2 emissions more than 5 % below the emission reduction trajectory for the reporting period of the year Y and the vehicle sub-group sg but not belonging to any of the CO2 emission classes referred to under points (c), (d) and (e);

(c) CO2 emission class 3 – vehicles of the vehicle sub-group sg registered for the first time in the reporting period of the year Y with CO2 emissions more than 8 % below the emission reduction trajectory for the reporting period of the year Y and the vehicle sub-group sg not belonging to any of the CO2 emission classes referred to under points (d) and (e);

(d) CO2 emission class 4 – low-emission heavy-duty vehicles;

(e) CO2 emission class 5 – zero-emission vehicles.

Member States shall ensure that the classification of a vehicle belonging to CO2 emission class 2 or 3 is reassessed every six years after the date of its first registration and that, where relevant, the vehicle is reclassified in the relevant emission class on the basis of the thresholds applicable at that time. Reclassification shall, with regard to a user charge, take effect at the latest on its first day of validity on or after the day of that reclassification.

3. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, reduced charges shall apply to vehicles in CO2 emission classes 2, 3, and 4 and 5, as follows:

(a) CO2 emission class 2 – 5 % to 15 % reduction compared to the charge applicable for CO2 emission class 1;

(b) CO2 emission class 3 – 15 % to 30 % reduction compared to the charge applicable for CO2 emission class 1;

(c) CO2 emission class 4 – 30 % to 50 % reduction compared to the charge applicable for CO2 emission class 1;

(d) CO2 emission class 5 – 50 % to 75 % reduction compared to the charge applicable for CO2 emission class 1.

Where the infrastructure charge or the user charge is also varied according to the Euro emission class, the reductions referred to in the first subparagraph shall apply as compared to the charge applied to the strictest Euro emission standards.

4. The variations referred to in this Article shall not be designed to generate additional revenues.

5. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a Member State may decide not to apply the requirement of varying the infrastructure charge in accordance with paragraph 2 where an external-cost charge for CO2 emissions is levied and varied according to the reference values of the external-cost charge for CO2 emissions in Annex IIIc.

6. On road sections where a vehicle is operated without CO2 emissions in a verifiable manner, Member States may apply to that vehicle reduced charges in accordance with CO2 emission class 5. Member States that make use of that option shall apply the charges applicable to CO2 emission class 1 to that vehicle on other road sections.

7. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to specify the reference CO2 emissions for the vehicle groups not covered by Article 2(1), points (a) to (d), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1242.

Those implementing acts shall reproduce the data relevant for each vehicle groups published in the report referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2018/956. The Commission shall adopt those implementing acts at the latest six months after the publication of the relevant report referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2018/956.

8. By 25 March 2027, the Commission shall assess the implementation and effectiveness of the variation of charges based on CO2 emissions referred to in this Article, as well as whether it is still necessary and its coherence with Directives 2003/87/EC and 2003/96/EC. Based on that assessment, the Commission shall, where appropriate, submit a legislative proposal to amend the relevant provisions of this Directive on the variation of charges on the basis of CO2 emissions.

9. The Commission shall, every five years, after 24 March 2022, review the maximum rates for the user charges in Annex II and the reduction levels referred to in paragraph 3 and, where appropriate, submit a legislative proposal, based on the results of that review process, to amend those provisions.

10. Every 30 months after 24 March 2022, the Commission shall draw up a report assessing the appropriateness of the thresholds for CO2 emission classes 2 and 3 referred to in Article 7ga(2), points (b) and (c), of this Directive in relation to the reference emissions published in accordance with Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 or to the CO2 emissions reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/956, and where appropriate submit a legislative proposal to amend those thresholds based on the results of that assessment.

11. The application of the variation of charges based on CO2 emissions referred to in this Article shall not be mandatory where another Union road transport fuel carbon-pricing measure applies.