Arup, E.ON, Heineken, Iberdrola, Siemens AG, TRATON GROUP and Unilever launched the Electric Advantage Leadership Alliance at COP31 in Antalya on November 11, 2026, according to a press release from We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC). The alliance is a group of senior business leaders working to accelerate the shift to electrified economies.
The alliance was launched under WMBC's Electric Advantage programme and brings together companies across the electrification value chain to strengthen the business voice on the policies and investment needed to scale electrification, the coalition said.
What the Alliance Will Do
The Leadership Alliance will advise on strategic priorities for the Electric Advantage programme, engage policymakers on the regulation and investment conditions needed to accelerate electrification, and provide senior business leadership and visibility on electrification, according to WMBC. It brings together executives from sectors including clean power, industrial technology, infrastructure, transport, manufacturing and major energy users.
Electric Advantage is a multi-year programme convened by WMBC to accelerate electrification through coordinated business action, policy reform and investment across transport, buildings, industry and power.
The Numbers Behind the Launch
The release said more than 180 companies representing $1.69 trillion in combined annual revenue have backed a business statement, coordinated through the Electric Advantage programme, calling for faster government action to unlock clean electrification.
Separate global polling of nearly 2,000 senior business leaders across 18 markets found that 90% expect their operations to be largely electrified within a decade, while 72% say government policy is moving too slowly to support the pace of change businesses need, according to the release.
WMBC's Electrification Competitiveness Index found 14 of the 16 countries assessed have stronger enabling conditions for electrification than actual deployment. The release said policies remain incomplete or inconsistent in many countries, and that deployment is being held back by high electricity costs, grid constraints, infrastructure gaps and slow implementation.
What the Leaders Said
María Mendiluce, CEO of We Mean Business Coalition, said: "To turn corporate demand into investment at scale, we need affordable clean power, grids that can connect projects quickly and policy that gives businesses confidence to move. The Leadership Alliance brings together companies across the value chain to make that case with a stronger voice and help governments create the conditions for the market to move faster."
René Mono, Senior Vice President Strategy & Sustainability at E.ON, said: "At E.ON, we are committed to advancing an energy system that strengthens resilience, protects the climate and keeps energy affordable. Electrification brings these priorities together, but delivering it at scale requires collective action. Through Electric Advantage, we want to work with business leaders and policymakers to turn shared ambition into action."
Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera, Vice-president of the Spanish Association for Energy Economics (AEEE) and Global Director of Climate Change and Alliances at Iberdrola, said: "This alliance is key to giving a voice to industry and, importantly, to energy demand. Electrification is not just about energy suppliers or the value chain. Above all, it is about energy users: understanding their challenges and needs, and working together to find solutions that can accelerate the electrification process."
Eva Riesenhuber, EVP and Global Head of Sustainability at Siemens AG, said: "The future is electric. It is one of the most powerful levers to decarbonize our economies while making them more efficient. Accelerating the transition through technology, digitalization and AI, we can optimize how energy is generated, distributed and used, helping industries and infrastructure to become more competitive, resilient and sustainable."
Andreas Follér, CSO of TRATON GROUP, said: "Electrifying heavy-duty transport is no longer primarily a technology challenge; it is a matter of adopting and scaling proven solutions. It's at our fingertips to build a transport system that can reduce emissions, strengthen businesses and benefit society. By working across the transport ecosystem, we can put the right conditions in place for deployment at scale."
Hannah Hislop, Head of Sustainability - Climate at Unilever, said: "Electrification is a priority for Unilever as we transition to renewable energy in our operations and supply chain. Better, more affordable access to renewable electricity will be key to further progress across our value chain and move us closer to our climate targets, and support business resilience and energy security."
Launch Event
The launch event, "How can business seize the Electric Advantage?", is scheduled for Wednesday, November 11, from 16:00 to 17:30 at the COP31 Business Pavilion, with a reception to follow. According to WMBC, it brings together senior business leaders from across the electrification value chain, alongside policymakers, finance and consumer representatives, to discuss how to accelerate electrification, unlock investment and help deliver the COP31 Presidency's 35x35 ambition.
Source: We Mean Business Coalition press release, November 11, 2026.