Brussels — A broad coalition of carmakers, company fleets, civil society groups, cities, and consumer organisations has called on the European Commission to propose a regulation setting binding electrification targets for corporate fleets. The Platform for Electromobility, which unites these diverse stakeholders, is urging immediate regulatory action to accelerate the electrification of corporate fleets, a move seen as crucial for reducing transport emissions and widening access to affordable electric vehicles (EVs) for European households.
The call for action is mainly directed at the newly appointed Commissioners Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Sustainable Transport) and Wopke Hoekstra (Climate, Clean Growth, and Net Zero), who mentioned the initiative during Parliamentary hearings in November.
With transport accounting for a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, an ambitious policy on fleet electrification is seen as a key lever to cut emissions and support the automotive industry in meeting CO2 standards. Fleet electrification has the potential to deliver substantial emissions reductions, given that 60% of cars sold in the EU are company vehicles, which are driven twice as much as private cars. These corporate vehicles generally enter the used car market after three to five years, creating a significant opportunity for second-hand buyers to access more affordable electric vehicles.
In a letter to the European Commission sent on 16 December, the Platform for Electromobility urges both Commissioners to prioritise legislative action by 2025 to establish binding electrification targets for corporate fleets. This would set a clear roadmap for decarbonisation and support the automotive industry in meeting CO2 standards targets.
Jean-André Barbosa, Vice President of Renault Group and a member of the Platform for Electromobility, commented on the necessity of well-designed policies, stating, “We are absolutely favourable to the greening of corporate fleets with mechanisms that must be carefully designed.”
According to the advocacy group, the faster fleets electrify their company cars; the faster households can access more affordable electric vehicles powered by clean European electricity, thereby reducing transport emissions. This is seen as a win-win for industries, climate, and consumers.
Dominic Phinn, Head of Transport at Climate Group, noted, “Across Europe, forward-looking companies, such as members of our EV100 and EV100+ networks, are turning ambitious EV commitments into action. They support zero-emission corporate fleet targets, alongside reliable EV supply and the consistent deployment of charging infrastructure, to further their decarbonisation projects and drive the EU into a clean transport future.”
Establishing binding targets for fleet electrification would also provide a key demand-side measure that complements the EU’s industrial policy for the automotive sector and the Clean Industrial Deal. A regulation cleaning corporate fleets would align supply-side incentives with robust demand-side targets, ensuring a balanced and sustainable growth path for the EU’s automotive industry, supporting both decarbonisation goals and economic competitiveness.
Christopher Hook, Global Head of Sustainability Strategy at Uber, highlighted the importance of action, saying, “We welcome the recognition by Transport and Climate Commissioners Tzitzikostas and Hoekstra that corporate fleets can have an oversized impact on the climate and their support for bold action to electrify the sector. It’s now time to put this sentiment into action, putting the electrification of road transport front and centre of the next Commission programme.”
