Across Europe it is estimated that the electric operations will save 20,000 metric tons of CO2e each year by 2030, which is a 10% reduction in Mars Europe’s road transport GHG emissions annually.

The first delivery happened last week, with Einride’s freight capacity offering deployed with two electric trucks and charging points powered by Einride’s operating system Saga. The route is between the Mars Petcare factory in Verden, Germany and its distribution center in Minden, Germany, which are approximately 90 km (56 miles) apart.

Following Germany’s lead, the global strategic partnership will begin expanding across Europe first with routes in the U.K. and the Netherlands expected to follow later in 2024. These fully electric operations will be complemented with an autonomous pilot, implemented in 2025.

Barry Parkin, Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer at Mars, Incorporated, said that "this partnership is our latest investment to achieve net zero globally by 2050, implementing the actions outlined in the Mars Net Zero Roadmap with a focus on improving and optimizing logistics, redesigning networks, transforming the type of transport we rely on, and embracing the electrification of our truck fleets."

The introduction of electric transport networks forms part of Mars, Incorporated’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This includes a new target to cut carbon in half by 2030 across its full value chain (Scope 1,2,3). One part of that is transforming the type of transport the business relies on and the energy sources used.

As part of its net zero roadmap, Mars is investing $1b globally over the next three years to drive climate action across the business and will continue to commit financial resources as needed until Mars’ net zero goals are achieved.

On this first route in Germany, the two electric heavy-duty freight trucks (Mercedes eActros 300 Tractor) will save up to 193,000 road miles (312,000 km) per year on the return route from Verden to Minden. To support the transition to having an electric fleet, Einride and Mars have installed four high power electric truck charging points at its German Petcare sites.