According to Arval Mobility Observatory, three smaller BEVs lead the list of most ordered company cars at leasing and mobility solutions company Arval. Although the BMW iX1 remained the number one in the second half of 2024, it has now been overtaken by the Kia EV3 and the Skoda Enyaq.
“We knew these smaller BEVs were catching up,” says Christophe Jansen, Senior Mobility Leader at the Arval Mobility Observatory Belgium. “They are improving in all fields and are cheaper, so it’s easier for many people to have them in their budget list. And it has finally happened: they outclass their ICE competitors.”
More than eight out of ten cars (85.5%) ordered through Arval in the first half of the year were purely electric. Less than 10% were still ICE (gasoline or diesel), and only 6% still opt for a plug-in hybrid.
BEVs have taken over
For the first time, it has also happened in the lower segments of the professional market: BEVs have taken over. Until now, the two lowest segments were still dominated by ICE vehicles. These categories now already account for 11.5% of total electric orders.
The category above, compact cars, represents 25.5% of the total number of BEVs ordered, while the middle class segment still accounts for the largest share and represents 41%.
The high-end segments represent the remaining BEVs ordered, accounting for approximately 32%. In these higher segments, BEVs are highly sought after and outperform both PHEVs and ICE cars.
Serious reshuffle
The new top three most ordered electric company cars are now led by the Kia EV3, followed by the Skoda Enyaq, and the former number one, the BMW iX1.
“These cars are now the winners if you consider TCO, total cost of ownership. In the past, ICE cars were still on top, but the situation has reversed,” says Jansen. “The newest small BEVs score as well or even better on range and performance than bigger models a few years ago, so logically, they can attract a lot of customers.”
Noticeable changes
Three brands have two cars in the top ten: Skoda, BMW, and Audi. In the second half of last year, BMW had three cars in the top ten; the iX2, a coupé equivalent of the iX1, has disappeared.
Kia is the newcomer and is immediately in the number one position. Other brands are Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Volvo. The Skoda Enyaq and the VW ID.4 are the only models that can maintain their former position. The Audi Q6 e-tron made a remarkable entrance directly into fourth position.
Whereas Tesla still had two cars in the top ten last year, the waning popularity of the brand is also noticed here. The Model Y tumbles from third to fourteenth place (!), the Model 3 from seventh to eleventh. The clientele does not easily absolve Musk’s political escapade.
The Volvo EX30, number two last year, has also disappeared from the top ten, but is replaced by its older brother, the EX40 (in a lower ranking). The problems with the EU tariffs on Chinese EVs have cost the smallest Volvo BEV a place in the top ten. This should now be reversed, as the car is also manufactured in Ghent.
Speaking of EU tariffs, in the professional market, Chinese electric cars have not yet made it into the top sellers. Most likely, these tariffs play a role, but also the fact that their importer organizations are not yet embedded in the fleet and leasing sector, unlike their European and Asian competitors.
