A rapidly evolving landscape
The transition to electric mobility is gathering pace across Member States.
Market data indicates that 2025 marked a tipping point for electric vehicles, with battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales in Europe rising by around 30% and reaching approximately 19% market share. Notably, electric car sales surpassed petrol car sales in the EU for the first time last December, underscoring the accelerating shift towards electrified transport.
“This shows how quickly the transition is moving compared with just a few years ago”, said Edoardo Turano, Head of Unit for Road Mobility at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action. He also emphasised that electrification plays a critical role in Europe’s energy security and economic resilience.
“Europe spends hundreds of billions of euros each year on fossil fuel imports. Electrification of transport is not only climate policy – it is also economic and energy security policy,” he added.
In 2023 and 2024, fossil fuel imports cost the EU over €350bn annually, following a record amount in 2022 of over €600bn. Electrifying the transport sector, still overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels, offers a clear pathway to reducing this dependency.
Maintaining momentum on electrification
Ending Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels and unlocking the full benefits of electric mobility will require sustained and coordinated action. During the debate, Member of the European Parliament Thomas Pellerin-Carlin stressed the importance of maintaining a clear and consistent direction for Europe’s industrial transformation. “Globally, the future of the car is electric,” he said.
“The question for Europe is whether we choose to lead this transformation and build the industry here, or risk falling behind while others move forward.”
He also highlighted the need for policies that address affordability and stimulate demand, ensuring that electric mobility becomes accessible to a broader range of European consumers.
Corporate fleets: a key lever for change
Corporate fleets offer a major opportunity in this sense. The new Eurelectric-EY joint report shows that corporate fleets account for around 60% of new car registrations in Europe. Given that these vehicles typically re-enter the market after just three to five years, they can play a vital role in strengthening the second-hand EV market, making electric mobility more affordable and accessible.
Electrifying corporate fleets can therefore help scale demand while supporting wider market adoption over time.
From vision to reality
As millions of electric vehicles connect to the grid in the coming years, their interaction with the power system will become increasingly important. EVs can provide flexibility, enable smart charging, and support the integration of renewable energy.
Ensuring that regulation, infrastructure investment and industrial policy evolve in tandem will be essential to sustaining progress.
To turn this vision into a reality, Eurelectric highlights 5 key recommendations:
- Adopt EU binding purchase targets for fleet electrification
- Activate national fiscal incentives for ZEV uptake
- Favour BEVs with onboard bi-directional capabilities
- Empower grid operators to proactively prepare networks for fleet electrification
- Maintain ambition & implement key legislation
As the EU enters a new legislative cycle and debates the future of its automotive industry, EVision 2026 highlighted the importance of close collaboration between policymakers and industry. Aligning the mobility transition with Europe’s broader energy, climate and competitiveness objectives will be critical to securing a sustainable and resilient future.