The EU has not yet introduced any binding regulations for the full electrification of company car fleets by 2030, but many companies are already forging ahead with the transition – with notable success.
Progress seems slow in the electrification of mobility. The reasons are well-documented: high prices, underdeveloped charging infrastructures and a general sense of uncertainty. The electrification of company cars, on the other hand, is taking a very different turn – one that begins with a series of success stories.
Before we get to them, let us recall a quote that caused quite a stir in the spring and seemed to imply a change of course, towards increased political pressure for a swift reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
Picture: RgStudio
“Electric vehicles already account for 15% of EU sales. To grow that, we need to boost demand,” remarked Greek EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas at the press conference of the Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector and Decarbonise Corporate Fleets, held in Brussels on 5 March 2025. “So we will start by legislating on corporate fleets, which currently account for around 60% of EU car registrations.Their mileage is higher, and they enter the second-hand market faster than private vehicles, making them an important market segment.”
Not only does Tzitzikostas’ statement come with the threat of further regulations, rules and quotas, it also posits that decisive electrification measures in the well-financed and infrastructurally cohesive company car market – which makes up a large proportion of total traffic — can reduce emissions more quickly than in the relatively fragmented passenger car market.
“After two or three years, company vehicles enter the used car market. This means that the fleets we electrify today are going to increase the proportion of private electric cars tomorrow. That is a powerful lever for change.”
According to Marc Oliver Prinzing, Chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Corporate Mobility (Bundesverband Betriebliche Mobilität e. V. / BBM), around two thirds of all new registrations in Germany are commercial. “After two or three years, these vehicles enter the used car market. This means that the fleets we electrify today are going to increase the proportion of private electric cars tomorrow. That is a powerful lever for change.” He adds: “It is encouraging to see that this is recognised at the political level.”
“In terms of corporate fleets, I would cautiously estimate that 60 per cent or more are in the process of – or have already completed – electrification,” says Marc Oliver Prinzing. “Take our member SAP, for example. They have a plan and are committed to seeing it through.”
Electrification of company cars
Employees sometimes use the car as a mobile office for emails and phone calls during longer charging breaks. Picture: Liquid Sky Studio
SAP
By 2030, all company cars owned by SAP are set to be electric. According to fleet manager Steffen Krautwasser, the German fleet consists of around 19,000 cars, including almost 5,000 electric vehicles. Krautwasser reports that the selection of cars and general availability have improved, but there is still a lack of affordable family models. The driving range is not an issue: “Well over 95 per cent of our current electric car users state that their next car will be fully electric, too, if they have a say in the matter.” In Krautwasser’s opinion, a functioning charging infrastructure is crucial for user acceptance. SAP currently operates 1,750 charging points at 14 locations and plans to increase this number to 3,700 in the medium term. It is not necessary for SAP to provide a charging station for every single car, says Krautwasser – many employees work from home, charge on the road or no more than once a week.
Brother
Founded in Japan, the Brother Electronics Group is aiming for a 65-per cent reduction of its CO₂ emissions by 2030, which includes a complete conversion of its car fleet. Overnight at-home charging and access to universal charging cards are crucial to the firm’s endeavour. Account manager Carsten Mengel is unfazed by longer driving times: whenever his car is charging, he simply uses it as a mobile office to catch up on emails and phone calls.
EnBW
Electricity provider EnBW is an early adopter of electrification. In 2021, around 30 per cent of its fleet was already fully electric and 5 per cent were plug-in hybrids. Team leader Norman Scheck is pushing ahead with the conversion of 2,500 cars and 1,600 light commercial vehicles, supporting EnBW’s “Paths towards electric and sustainable corporate mobility” project. While the passenger car fleet has largely been converted, EnBW’s fleet of utility vehicles still has some catching up to do.
R+V Versicherung
Insurance company R+V Versicherung operates a fleet of around 900 company cars, 73 per cent of which are battery-electric. According to fleet manager Hannes Davieds, all new vehicle orders must be fully electric. He believes that complete electrification by 2028 is realistic, as range anxiety can be avoided by mapping out charging breaks and routes accordingly. Many users are surprised by “how smoothly it all works,” he says.
Telekom
Telekom is also going forward with the electrification of its fleet of around 19,000 company cars. In 2021, the company launched a pilot project with 50 electric cars and 25 plug-in hybrids, which proved to be popular. The subsequent rollout has been gradual and is expected to be completed by 2030. Telekom’s environmental manager, Norbert Wikowsky, believes that easy access to charging infrastructure is essential. Telekom therefore opted for a charging provider that operates all over Europe early on in the process.
Text: Michael Hopp
Head of Content at the Gateway editorial team and an absolute pioneer in recognising automotive trends
