Uncertainty is splitting fleet strategies
Six in 10 European fleet managers now say regulatory uncertainty is reshaping their 2026 to 2030 decisions. The market is pulling in three directions. 27% are accelerating electrification. 19% are pausing for clearer rules. 15% are taking interim steps like hybrids. A shared goal, three very different paces. This is the story of 2026 in one chart.
Out of sight, out of mind: monitoring falls as tool awareness lags
Only 34% of European companies still track their fleet emissions. That’s a 9.3-point drop in one year and the lowest level since the study began. However, the UK bucks this trend, with 68% of companies now monitoring their fleet’s CO₂ emissions; up 2% from 2025.
Moreover, only one in four fleet managers (one in two in the UK) are aware of digital tools like Alphabet Carbon Manager that can simplify emissions tracking. This leaves many without a clear way forward. One quiet bright spot: AI integration in fleet operations now sits at 21%, up from 15% in 2024.
Meanwhile, digital engagement is slipping, with 32% (26% in the UK) unable to identify any digitalisation challenges at all. Yet, there is a silver lining: AI adoption is quietly gaining ground, with 11% now reporting some level of integration, up from 7% in 2025.
Electrification confidence holds
Despite the setbacks elsewhere, 61% of European fleet professionals expect their fleets to be fully electric or have already made the switch. The UK is certainly helping to lead the charge in this area, with four in five (85%) fleet managers reporting that their fleets will be fully electric at some point in the future, up from three in four (71%) UK respondents in 2025
That commitment is the steady anchor of the 2026 study. Progress is not simple. 90% of fleet managers see at least one barrier to electrification, with range anxiety (37%) and charging infrastructure (32%) still leading the list. No single blocker dominates, so progress needs a joined-up response.
22 pages. 12 countries. Four years of trend data.
Key findings
- More data, less direction: While more companies are tracking emissions, only 27% can accurately quantify their CO₂ output – showing that data alone isn't enough. Without digital tools and structure, information risks becoming noise.
- Digital progress still stalling: Despite rising pressure, 42% still rely on fuel-based calculations and 26% use Excel – outdated methods that hinder effective fleet management. Just 7% have begun integrating AI.
- Knowledge gaps persist – and hold fleets back: Nearly half of fleet managers still feel underinformed about electrification, infrastructure, and available support – a barrier to progress despite high awareness.
- Regulation isn’t enough on its own: The CSRD has had minimal influence on fleet planning so far, with more than half of companies unaffected and one third unsure of its relevance.
- Sustainability remains a structural challenge: One in three companies now have a dedicated sustainability department – an encouraging step, but overall planning remains fragmented across much of Europe.