EU's strict fleet rules could hike rental car prices by 2030
Pullach, Isar Valley – The EU's planned regulation to electrify corporate vehicle fleets is likely to drive up rental car prices, according to car rental company Sixt. "If vehicle costs rise, we will have to pass those on," CEO Konstantin Sixt told Handelsblatt in its Wednesday edition.
The European Commission aims to significantly increase the share of low- and zero-emission vehicles in commercial fleets. Under the draft proposal, Germany would face a quota of up to 83% by 2030, rising to 95% by 2035. The industry has grown increasingly critical of the requirements. Sixt described the plan as a "backdoor ban on combustion engines" and warned of higher costs, implementation challenges, and growing dependence on China for batteries. Recently, some members of the German government and the European Parliament have proposed further watering down the measures.
The regulation is part of the so-called Automotive Package, which the European Commission presented in late 2025 and is currently being negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council.
