BMW, Toyota, and 65 other auto industry signatories are urging the European Commission to abandon mandatory EV purchase targets for corporate fleets, reports Reuters.
Why it matters: Corporate fleets represent 50-60% of all new car sales in the EU, making this a make-or-break policy battle ahead of Brussels’ December 16 announcement.
The Details
- The 67 signatories sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday arguing that mandatory fleet EV targets would be “highly damaging” and “counter-productive.”
- Signatories include major leasing companies Arval (BNP Paribas), Ayvens (Societe Generale), rental giants Avis, Hertz, ride-hailing firm Bolt, and national rental and leasing associations.
- The letter cites purchase costs, operating costs, and insufficient charging infrastructure as the main obstacles to EV adoption.
- Companies warn the high cost would force them to either retain older vehicles longer or reduce new vehicle purchases entirely.
- The coalition argues that incentives and charging infrastructure investment, not mandates, drove EV success in leading European markets.
By The Numbers
- Signatories: 67 companies and associations
- Fleet share of EU car sales: 50-60%
- EU proposal date: December 16, 2025
- Companies backing mandates: 120+ (including EDF, Ikea, Siemens, Unilever)
EVXL’s Take
This letter represents the fleet industry’s counterattack against proposals we first reported in July 2025, when the Commission floated requiring rental firms to buy only EVs starting in 2030. At the time, one Brussels lawmaker noted such rules would impact 60% of the new car business. Now BMW, Toyota, and the leasing giants are drawing their line in the sand.
The timing is no coincidence. This lobbying blitz comes as European automakers simultaneously push for a 2035 combustion ban reprieve, and just days after Germany formally demanded Brussels allow plug-in hybrids beyond 2035. The fleet industry’s argument mirrors the automakers’ playbook: blame infrastructure and costs, demand incentives instead of mandates.
Campaign group Climate Group’s response, pointing to 120 companies already committed to 100% electric fleets, suggests the “impossible” transition is only impossible for those who refuse to invest in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will the EU announce its decision? The European Commission is set to unveil its automotive package on December 16, 2025, though the announcement was already delayed by one week due to intense lobbying.
- Which companies signed the letter? BMW, Toyota, Arval, Ayvens, Avis, Bolt, Hertz, and various national rental and leasing associations totaling 67 signatories.
- What do supporters of mandates say? Climate Group points to over 120 companies, including EDF, Ikea, Siemens, and Unilever, that have already committed to 100% electric fleets voluntarily.
