The 2026 European Mobility Guide is now out from Ayvens, revealing the changing face of fleet electrification across Europe.

Available to access here, the new edition of the mobility giant’s yearly reference publication reveals that tax incentives are now the strongest driver of fleet electrification decisions in Europe, while total cost of ownership now favours EVs in a growing number of fleet segments.

The new report also features Ayvens’ latest EV maturity scores, updated using a new methodology to reflect the evolution in availability of electric passenger vehicles models.

Countries are now assessed on five core pillars, producing an overall maturity score on a scale out of 100: EV adoption, charging infrastructure, taxation and regulation, BEV vs ICE total cost of ownership (TCO) and sustainability of electricity. Based on this scoring, European countries are classified into three levels of EV maturity: Developed, Transitioning and Emerging.

The 2026 edition of the research shows Europe’s EV maturity remains uneven.

Northern and Western European continue to lead the transition. Norway (93/100) once again stands out as the most advanced EV market, followed by Belgium (78/100) and the Netherlands (74/100). These countries benefit from favourable taxation, mature charging networks and favourable battery electric vehicle (BEV) economics.

France is seen as a key example of this trend. With an EV maturity score of 65/100, it ranks among Europe’s ‘Developed’ markets, combining relatively strong adoption levels with competitive economics for electric vehicles. BEVs already offer a cost advantage over ICE vehicles (€0.33/km vs. €0.41/km), reinforcing their attractiveness for fleet operators. while recent regulatory changes are further strengthening the shift toward low-emission fleet.

In contrast, Southern and Eastern European markets, such as Italy (54/100) and Spain (53/100) are progressing at a slower pace, reflecting disparities in taxation frameworks, charging readiness and consumer adoption. While some countries have moved into the “Transitioning” category, such as Slovenia (46/100) and or are closing the gap with the mature category, such as Ireland (59/100), electrification remains a mid-term journey for many markets.

The study also shows that taxation has become a strategic driver of fleet decisions.

Across Europe, 2025 and 2026 marked a turning point, with governments shifting away from broad EV subsidies towards more targeted, long term fiscal mechanisms. In many countries, incentives for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and plug in hybrids are being progressively phased out, while penalties on high emission vehicles are tightening.

As a result, fleet managers increasingly need to align vehicle choices with evolving national tax rules, benefit in kind regimes and EU regulatory developments.

Avyen’s new report also reveals that BEVs are now cost competitive with ICE vehicles in most Northern and Western European countries, thanks to improved taxation advantages and lower total cost of ownership. Portugal emerges as one of the most competitive BEV markets in terms of cost per kilometre.

However, TCO competitiveness remains more challenging in some parts of Eastern Europe, where ICE vehicles still benefit from lower upfront and operating costs.

The study also shows that charging infrastructure continues to expand – but confidence remains uneven.

Public charging infrastructure has scaled rapidly across Europe, with more than 1.2 million public charging points deployed by the end of 2025. Yet infrastructure density and accessibility still vary significantly by country, contributing to different adoption speeds and persistent range anxiety among drivers.

Amélie de Valroger, global director innovation, products and consultancy at Ayvens, said that electrification in Europe is not shaped by ambition, but “the practical realities of each market – from tax frameworks to charging readiness and total cost of ownership”.

“In a context marked by economic pressure and evolving policy landscapes, those factors have become decisive levers in fleet strategies. With our 2026 Mobility Guide, we provide fleet managers with a clear, fact-based understanding of local realities, empowering them to make confident, forward-looking decisions and adapt their electrification roadmaps across Europe,” she stated.

Ayvens’ 2026 European Mobility Guide is online here.