More than one in four (28%) UK fleets expect to increase their vehicle numbers by 2028, according to data from the Arval Mobility Observatory 2025 Fleet and Mobility Barometer.
While this represents a decline from the 38% recorded in 2024, it still points to a generally positive outlook, with 65% of fleets expecting their numbers to remain stable and only 6% anticipating a reduction.
European fleets recorded 24% growth expectations and 7% contraction, while global figures stood at 27% growth and 7% contraction.
In the UK, car-only fleets showed more varied responses, with 34% expecting growth and 12% predicting a decrease – more polarised than their European and global counterparts.
Among the UK’s largest businesses, 30% foresaw growth and just 3% expected a reduction in fleet size.
Small companies (with one to 99 employees) were similarly optimistic, with 29% projecting growth.
Medium-sized firms (with 100 to 999 employees) were slightly more cautious, with 26% predicting expansion and 8% expecting contraction.
John Peters, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said: “We believe that these figures reflect some concerns about the general strength of the economy among businesses but it should also be recognised that having more than a quarter of fleets expecting to expand remains a positive outlook, and that the potential for contraction is seen to be very limited.”
Peters added: “The figures remain broadly positive across companies of different sizes, with fleets that are predicting growth and stability substantially outnumbering those who foresee any reduction in vehicle numbers. Again, they suggest a moderately optimistic mood.”
The most commonly cited reason for fleet expansion, mentioned by 78% of respondents, was business growth or the launch of new activities.
However, nearly half (47%) of those surveyed said they see fleet provision as a key tool for recruitment and retention, up from 38% in 2024 and just 28% in 2023.
In addition, 43% of businesses planned to offer vehicles to employees not currently eligible for a company car, such as through salary sacrifice schemes, while a similar proportion intended to implement car sharing. Both figures were up, from 37% and 35% respectively last year.
Peters said: “These are strong increases and show a growing awareness of the role of the company car in human resources terms at a time when finding and keeping the best people for your business remains a challenge.
“Again, this is suggestive of an increased role for the car as a benefit and probably linked to higher awareness and adoption of salary sacrifice initiatives.”
The findings are based on interviews conducted with 300 UK company decision makers as part of a wider survey of 8,061 participants across 28 countries. The research was conducted independently by Ipsos between August and November 2024.
