Copublished with Transport & Environnement<\/p>\n<\/div>
A new investigation by Reclaim Finance and Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that Europe\u2019s leasing giants have made little to no meaningful climate commitments, despite their growing influence and key role in decarbonizing the automotive sector. As the EU Fleets Regulation is expected before the end of 2025, the NGOs urge the European Commission to take action by imposing binding obligations on leasing companies to accelerate their green transition.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Across Europe, leasing has become the main way of accessing new cars. The sector already accounts for over 50% of new registrations, a figure expected to rise to 70% by 2030.<\/p>\n
This shift gives leasing companies\u2014subsidiaries of carmakers (e.g. Mobilize for Renault) or banking groups (e.g. Ayvens for Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 G\u00e9n\u00e9rale, Arval for BNP Paribas)\u2014significant power in shaping the EV transition. These companies are key intermediaries between car makers and clients. They set listed monthly prices for new models, which influence how attractive electric vehicles appear. They also guide customers through the transition \u2014or fail to do so. And they manage the resale of vehicles at the end of the lease period, shaping the second-hand market, where 8 out of 10 Europeans buy their cars.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Unlike carmakers, leasing companies are not subject to any specific climate regulations. There is currently no requirement for emissions transparency, no binding targets, and no phase-out timeline for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. It’s hardly surprising, then, that the warning lights are flashing red when it comes to decarbonization – and that no leasing company has committed to moving away from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<\/div>
Lucie Pinson, Executive Director at Reclaim Finance<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Worrying lack of transparency, weak and inconsistent climate targets<\/p>\n In response to this regulatory gap, Reclaim Finance and T&E analyzed the climate disclosures [1] of twenty major leasing companies [2]. The findings are concerning:<\/p>\n The leasing sector is largely unaccountable on climate<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Regulation is urgently needed<\/p>\n The conclusion is clear: policymakers need to introduce policies to reverse this trend and ensure that leasing companies play their role and become real green leaders.<\/p>\n Reclaim Finance and T&E call on the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament and Member States to include binding measures in the upcoming EU Fleets Regulation, expected by the end of 2025:<\/p>\n This report is a wake-up call for policymakers. Without regulation, leasing companies will continue to dodge their responsibilities in the climate transition\u2014even though they hold many of the levers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/reclaimfinance.org\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Figure-1-EN-1.png\" "\\"Figure")
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