The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest €9 million in a €30 million sustainability-linked bond issued by Autonom, a Romanian car leasing and rental company.
Autonom, an integrated provider of mobility and financing services, has launched a solution dedicated to electric cars to address concerns associated with the adoption of electric vehicles, such as long-distance car autonomy, charging, maintenance costs, technological advancement, and resale value risk. Number three in the market of operational leasing and car rental companies ordered at the beginning of the year, with the help of an EIB loan of €32 million, 200 Tesla electric cars (Model 3 and Model Y).
Autonom orders 200 electric cars worth €10 million and is speeding up the fleet electrification process. Last fall, Autonom received €15 million in financing from the European Investment Bank for the expansion of the fleet of electric and hybrid cars.
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to reduce the scope and stringency of two major ESG regulatory frameworks: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.
Global law firm Dentons has advised OX2 on acquiring three wind power projects totaling 235 MW in Romania from Future Power. The projects, located in Vaslui and Vrancea counties, are expected to be commissioned between 2028 and 2030, subject to permitting.
Romania is emerging as a key destination for Turkish renewable energy investments, attracting growing interest from industrial and financial groups. Real grid connection opportunities for projects, infrastructure modernisation potential, and investment framework stability make Romania strategic for Turkish capital as Europe accelerates its transition to sustainable sources and energy independence.
51% of Romanian entrepreneurs see sustainability as a way to reduce operational costs, yet the same proportion say implementation is too expensive, according to a new study by BRD Groupe Société Générale. Conducted among micro and small-to-medium enterprises, the research outlines how Romanian entrepreneurs perceive the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to sustainable business models.
