Belgian businesses maintain confidence in the prospects of their corporate car fleets

Nearly nine out of ten Belgian companies (87%) expect the size of their company car fleet to remain steady or even increase over the next three years. SMEs, however, are more guarded: 10% now plan to scale back their fleet, up from only 3% last year. Smaller players nonetheless support adding used vehicles. These figures come from the annual Mobility and Fleet Barometer issued by the Arval Mobility Observatory, Arval’s research hub for mobility solutions.

Some 8,000 fleet managers from 28 countries in Europe, North America and South America participated in the survey. Belgium was particularly well represented: 300 small, medium and large companies shared their views on mobility and fleet management.

Overall, businesses continue to show robust confidence despite a complex geopolitical landscape. Yet a new trend is surfacing among SMEs: 10% intend to scale down their fleet (versus -3% last year), driven mainly by the rise of remote work (45%). Other factors include reduced economic activity (36%) and fewer employees eligible for a company car (33%).

Increasing popularity of used vehicles

“Although teleworking has now been established since several years, it’s remarkable how its tangible impact on fleet management is only now becoming evident - especially for SMEs. On top of that, young recruits within these companies, once they’re eligible for a company car, often opt for a mobility budget they can shape to their needs: a small car or car-sharing plus a leased bike, or if they don’t hold a driving license, an increasingly common trend among some Belgian youngsters - a leased bike combined with reimbursement of public transport.”

- Christophe Janssen, Arval Mobility Observatory, Arval Belgium

The study also indicates that 49% of Belgian companies with second-hand vehicles deploy them mainly as pool or service cars - well above the European average of 39%. Used cars are especially attractive to small players (52%), while large companies depend on them slightly less (43%). They provide a key lever for cost optimisation and added flexibility.

Increasingly structured charging policies

The increasing numbers of 100% electric vehicles is prompting companies to define clear charging strategies.

In Belgium, 89% of companies have already rolled out - or intend to adopt - such a policy, placing the country among Europe’s front-runners (just behind Austria, Germany, Spain, Poland and Finland). Of these, 15% plan to offer all three options: on-site charging, public charging points and home charging. Larger companies lead the pace: 22% will provide all three, versus 11% of medium-sized and 14% of small firms.

Simplifying home charging: an HR asset

Half of the Belgian companies (50%) continue to seek simpler home charging - a trend set to accelerate among medium-sized firms over the next 12 months.

At present, 74% of employers that support home charging help fund the installation of a charging station; 13% cover the entire cost, while at an extremely small minority of companies (1%) the employee must pay for the charging station and the installation costs.

When it comes to energy costs, 20% of companies fully reimburse every charging session. In 43% of cases, the employee pays the total amount, while 37% of firms provide partial reimbursement.

“Offering a home charging station is a genuine advantage in recruitment efforts. Employers understand that staff living in apartments or terraced houses can’t always install a station, yet it has become a crucial part of the mobility package an organisation can provide.”

- Christophe Janssen, Arval Mobility Observatory, Arval Belgium