Ireland Joins Call for Faster Action on the Electrification of Europe’s Corporate Fleets
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From: Department of Transport
- Published on: 14 October 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
One in two new cars on European roads are corporate vehicles, yet the sector is lagging behind private EV take-up
Ministers with responsibility for transport and climate change from four EU Member States, including Ireland, are urging the incoming EU Commission to come up with proposals for speeding up the electrification of Europe’s vast fleet of corporate vehicles. More than half of Europe’s new cars sales are corporate sales, representing the majority of vehicle sales across the EU.
Writing to Ursula Von Der Leyen and the Director-Generals of DG MOVE and DG CLIMA, the Ministers from Ireland, Austria, Belgium and Netherlands point out that the corporate sector is lagging behind private citizens when it comes to EV take-up, despite having the financial means to lead the transition.
The issue will be discussed at the Environment Council in Luxembourg today, Monday October 14th.
Commenting on the request, Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan said:
“If we want Europe to be a global economic and environmental powerhouse then we need to turbo boost our response to the climate crisis. The EU has set ambitious and legally binding carbon reduction targets that demand radical action, innovation, vision and political fortitude.”
“Transport is one of the toughest areas to decarbonise and the transition to EVs is one important way we can reduce emissions in this sector. The corporate road fleet accounts for nearly one in every two new cars on our European roads. Most large corporations and businesses are out there promoting the fact that they are on the road to net-zero, so it doesn’t make sense that they are not moving to EV vehicles quicker.
"Accelerating the electrification of Europe’s corporate road fleets is the fastest and smartest way to help us reach our decarbonisation targets, boost our second hand EV market, bolster our car-manufacturing base in the short to medium term, and in turn attract both jobs and investment to Europe.”