The Arval Mobility Observatory has reported that fleet managers in Germany expect stable development in vehicle fleets over the coming years, alongside continued growth in electric vehicle adoption, according to its latest Fleet and Mobility Barometer.
The study, based on a global survey of 10,157 decision-makers across 33 countries—including 300 in Germany—found that 92% of German companies anticipate stable or increasing fleet sizes over the next three years. However, most expect fleet volumes to remain unchanged, with only 15% forecasting growth.
Arval said this trend has been consistent in recent years and is broadly in line with the European average. Leasing remains the dominant financing model, with 60% of fleet vehicles acquired through either finance leasing or full-service leasing, while direct purchases account for 31%.
Electrification continues to gain traction, with 70% of German companies already using battery-electric vehicles, significantly above the European average of 57%. Overall, 84% of respondents have either implemented or plan to adopt alternative drivetrains within three years.
Companies cited regulatory compliance and cost considerations as key drivers. Environmental targets aligned with corporate sustainability requirements and reduced fuel costs were each mentioned by 38% and 34% of respondents respectively, while 30% pointed to the expansion of low-emission zones as an increasingly important factor.
At the same time, the survey indicates a growing role for used vehicles in corporate fleets. Around 46% of companies have already integrated used vehicles, and a further 39% are considering doing so. Arval noted that companies are also keeping vehicles longer, extending the average holding period from 4.9 to 5.5 years.
Katharina Schmidt said used electric vehicles could support cost-efficient fleet electrification. “Concerns about range loss in used electric vehicles are unfounded. Our data shows that battery capacity remains at around 93% after approximately 70,000 kilometres,” she said. “Used electric vehicles can thus play a key role in accelerating and making the transformation of corporate fleets more cost-effective.”
Despite the progress, infrastructure remains a major barrier. The survey found that 63% of companies view insufficient charging infrastructure as the biggest obstacle to adopting electric vehicles. Challenges include limited access to charging at employees’ homes (31%) and company sites (27%), as well as high upfront costs (25%).
“We see, on the one hand, that the lack of charging points remains the biggest challenge for transitioning to electric mobility in fleets,” Schmidt said. “At the same time, the companies we surveyed show a strong willingness to financially support charging stations at their employees’ homes.”
The report also highlighted shifting perceptions around EV range. The share of companies citing limited driving range as a concern rose to 18%, up from 8% in the previous survey, suggesting that newer adopters may still have reservations despite improvements in vehicle performance.
Source: Electrive