Brussels, 18 December - Not including (e-)bikes in the Clean Corporate Vehicles proposal is a missed opportunity for the EU’s clean corporate mobility ambitions. The Commission’s proposal fails to reflect today’s mobility needs and overlooks the availability, affordability, and flexibility that (e-)bikes can bring to corporate fleets.
On 16 December, the European Commission published its “Automotive Package”, which includes the review of existing CO2 emission standards for cars and vans and a proposal for a regulation on clean corporate vehicles.
The European cycling sector, represented by the European Cyclists’ Federation and European Cycling Industries (CIE/CONEBI), welcomes the proposals’ overarching objective of keeping the transport sector on track for climate neutrality by 2050. However, the Clean Corporate Vehicles proposal does not reflect today’s, nor tomorrow’s mobility needs. We have serious concerns about the package’s narrow focus on motorised vehicles rather than the full mobility ecosystem. The European Commission has opted to give flexibility for the automotive industry by opening the door for the continued use of internal combustion engine vehicles, but less so for Member States, companies and employees that wish to make use of the full range of decarbonised mobility, for example by turning to (e-)bikes as an accelerator for clean corporate mobility.
We call for a more forward-looking approach. Widening the scope of the initiative to include existing and proven decarbonisation solutions that deliver cost-effective, zero-emission mobility, such as (electric) bicycles, is the kind of flexibility European companies need.
Company bike leasing presents a powerful opportunity to accelerate the EU’s transition to zero-emission mobility, while boosting competitiveness, growth, and jobs. By providing a cost-effective, accessible, and sustainable option, bike leasing aligns with the EU’s climate goals while fostering healthier, more efficient and inclusive mobility. It also offers an inroad to new European jobs in manufacturing and services.
Where the conditions are right, cycling is taken up as a cost-effective corporate mobility solution by employees and companies alike. In Germany alone, there are more than 2.1 million leased company bicycles on the streets (2024), thanks to a favourable tax regime. Much like incentives for zero-emission vehicles, measures incentivising the uptake of cycling, such as fiscal incentives for leasing or purchase aids, are not yet sufficient and fragmented across Member States, which is why action at EU level through the Clean Corporate Vehicles regulation is needed.
Another area where cycling is a cost-effective decarbonisation solution is the logistics sector. A recent study by EIT InnoEnergy shows that the use of e-cargo bikes reduces the total cost per parcel compared to e-vans alone, regardless of the fleet mix and the city layout. For a large logistics player delivering two billion parcels per year with a mixed fleet of 80% e-cargo bikes and 20 % e-vans (compared to 100 % e-van fleet), the annual cost savings could amount to approximately € 554 million by 2030, while reducing last-mile logistics emissions by up to 80%.
While we recognise the importance of supporting the European automotive industry during these challenging times, it is equally important to acknowledge that other sectors, such as cycling, are generating new jobs and growth across the mobility ecosystem. Further development of bicycle commuting, last-mile logistics, and other cycling-related services could create an additional 1 million jobs in Europe, on top of the existing 1.35 million. Establishing an enabling framework for cycling in corporate mobility would have a significant impact on future job creation in bicycle and component manufacturing.
We call for the following amendments to the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on clean corporate vehicles:
- Include (electric) bikes in national targets: Allow Member States to substitute up to 10 percentage points of the combined share of zero- and low-emission vehicles with (electric) bikes, including cargo bikes, in their national targets for corporate cars and 5 percentage points for corporate vans, measured as bikes leased through company leasing schemes benefiting from fiscal incentives and bikes purchased with purchase aids;
- Recognise fiscal incentives and purchase aids: Explicitly include fiscal incentives for company bike leasing and direct purchase aids for bikes as measures that Member States can use to achieve their targets for clean corporate fleets.
Laurianne Krid, CEO of the European Cyclists’ Federation:
“Europe’s businesses need flexibility in their decarbonisation trajectories for corporate mobility, and Europe’s citizens need broad access to all zero-emission mobility solutions, including bikes. The Commission’s proposal on Clean Corporate Vehicles is a missed opportunity to combine both, and we call for amendments that explicitly allow Member States to provide companies with tax and purchase incentives for cycling.”
Paul Walsh, CEO of European Cycling Industries (CIE/CONEBI):
“European companies are already turning to bicycles for cleaner mobility because they offer an efficient, market-ready and affordable solution - even more so when backed by bike leasing and fiscal incentives. We hope the [Clean Corporate Vehicles] proposal is amended to reflect how mobility is evolving in the real world and give companies the right kind of flexibility.”
For more information, please contact:
Lauha Fried
Policy Director
l.fried@cyclingindustries.com
Holger Haubold
Director Intellectual Property and Data
h.haubold@ecf.com