IKEA has launched a new electric heavy-duty transport project in Italy, bringing battery-electric long-haul trucks into regular operation through a partnership with logistics provider LC3 Trasporti and Mercedes-Benz Trucks.
The project is currently operating two battery-electric trucks and is set to expand to more than 10 Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 vehicles by the third quarter of 2026, with all vehicles in the operation being electric.
The trucks are deployed on defined routes, carrying containers from the ports of Genoa and La Spezia to a distribution centre in Piacenza, before continuing with store deliveries across northern Italy. Once fully operational, the electric fleet is expected to cover more than 1.2 million kilometres per year.
“This project is aimed at reducing the climate impact of our transport operations in Italy, while also supporting quieter night-time deliveries to our stores,” said Ewelina Taylor, global transport manager at Inter IKEA Group.
Charging for the eActros 600 trucks takes place using public infrastructure located close to LC3 Trasporti’s warehouse in Piacenza. The network is operated by Milence, which is rolling out high-power charging sites for electric heavy-duty vehicles across Europe.
Within the project structure, vehicle ownership and day-to-day operations are managed by LC3 Trasporti, which operates the electric trucks as part of the contracted logistics service for IKEA. The deployment is fully commercially funded, reflecting a model built around operational delivery rather than pilot support or public incentives.
Operationally, the trucks are assigned to dedicated routes rather than ad hoc work. The setup combines inbound container flows from the ports of Genoa and La Spezia with outbound deliveries from the Piacenza distribution centre to IKEA stores in Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. By linking the port, distribution, and retail legs within a defined corridor, the operation is structured to ensure consistent vehicle use throughout the working day.
The eActros 600 is Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ latest battery-electric model, developed for long-haul applications and designed to handle higher daily mileage and heavier-duty work than earlier electric truck generations. According to the manufacturer, its deployment in Italy reflects a growing shift towards battery-electric vehicles in more demanding freight operations beyond short-range regional distribution.
At the same time, IKEA is exploring how electric heavy-duty operations could be extended to additional national routes, and potentially international ones, while also testing a depot-based charging model with a Volvo electric truck in Italy, with the aim of deploying two or three additional vehicles by the end of the year, subject to operational performance and infrastructure readiness.
