Survey: the cost of corporate vehicle fleets in Europe has increased by around 30 percent in just a few years

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 11. 19. 10:12

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

The total cost of ownership (TCO) of corporate vehicle fleets in Europe may have increased by up to 30 percent in the past five years, according to the latest industry report by Arval Mobility Observatory. According to the study, the increase has fundamentally changed the logic of fleet management and cost planning across Europe, as previously predictable cost items now require continuous and active management – fleet management company Arval told MTI on Wednesday.

They emphasized that the growth is due to several mutually reinforcing market factors. The purchase price of new vehicles has increased by an average of 15-25 percent since 2020, which in itself has increased the initial cost level of fleets. In parallel, financing and leasing fees have increased by 2-4 percentage points with changes in interest rates, significantly burdening monthly expenses.

The volatility of the energy market has further increased cost pressure, with fuel prices stabilizing at a level 20-35 percent higher than in 2020, while business electricity tariffs have shown an increase of 30-60 percent from time to time. The fluctuating residual values of the used car market pose an additional risk, with a difference of up to 10-15 percent at the end of the contract cycle, which can significantly affect the costs projected over the entire life cycle.

Marianna Agárdi, Managing Director of Arval Hungary, drew attention in the announcement that cost items previously considered stable and predictable are now constantly changing, therefore greater emphasis should be placed on the transparency of the cost structure and real-time data analysis. This is not just an operational fleet management issue: mobility has now become a strategic financial factor that directly influences corporate decision-making and long-term business planning.

The announcement detailed that the TCO increase is particularly severe for organizations that operate high-mileage or regional fleets used for logistics tasks. The report also points out that while car maintenance costs have also increased significantly for privately owned vehicles, the extent and impact of the TCO increase can be measured precisely in corporate fleets, where financing models, residual value risk and energy prices are directly integrated into operating contracts.

The Arval Mobility Observatory study is based on an analysis of fleet cost data, market indicators and macroeconomic trends between 2020 and 2025, based on statistics and market indicators from European Union and Eurozone countries. The TCO models are calculated using data from Eurostat, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, and European car market indices.

Arval is a leading international player in full-service vehicle leasing and mobility solutions. The company has been part of the BNP Paribas group since its foundation in 1989 and is part of its Commercial, Personal Banking & Services division. At the end of 2024, Arval managed nearly 1.8 million vehicles and its 8,600 employees offer flexible, personalized solutions to large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and private customers in 29 countries. Arval is a founding member of the Element-Arval Global Alliance, whose fleet includes more than 4.5 million vehicles in 55 countries, the statement said.