More than one in five new company cars ordered through Spain’s leading rental fleets now run on hybrid or electric power. Ayvens’ latest figures show diesel losing ground as Spanish businesses rethink how they manage mobility and costs.
Diesel used to be the default for corporate fleets, but that is changing quickly. In 2026, gasoline vehicles overtook diesel in new registrations. Petrol models now make up 38.4 percent of Ayvens’ fleet orders, while diesel has fallen to 35.9 percent, down from 42.9 percent last year. Among vehicles currently in production, diesel’s share is 36.8 percent, and the downward trend looks set to continue.
Ayvens operates one of the world’s largest multi-brand EV fleets, with a presence in 40 countries and a total fleet of about 3.1 million vehicles.
Businesses, not private buyers, are driving the shift. Companies, especially SMEs and large corporates, are turning to hybrid and plug-in models to cut running costs and protect resale values while meeting environmental rules. The figures reflect the change: 20.3 percent of Ayvens’ active fleet is now electrified, rising to 23.3 percent for new orders. Data from El Periódico and Ayvens points to a market-wide trend, beyond a blip or the experience of a single provider.
Hybrids are leading the way. Over the past year, self-charging hybrids (HEV) grew by 10.1 percent and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) by 10.4 percent. Together, they now account for more than 10 percent of all new company car registrations. Pure electric vehicles (BEV) are growing more slowly, accounting for 3.5 percent of the fleet and 3.4 percent of new orders. Most businesses still see hybrids as the safer choice, offering flexibility for city and longer trips without concerns about charging points. Sector data shows that almost all of the Spanish car market’s growth in 2026 has come from hybrids.
The pace of change varies by vehicle type. SUVs and crossovers are at the forefront of the electrification push, making up 57.7 percent of new operations. Diesel remains common in vans and commercial vehicles, where range and heavy use make switching to electric harder. Charging infrastructure is still catching up, leaving diesel the practical option for many delivery and service fleets for now.
Despite the rise of electrified vehicles, Spain’s share of pure battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the first half of 2026 was just 9.76%, with around 63,201 BEVs on the road. This helps explain why many companies still view hybrids as a more practical interim solution.
Small and medium-sized businesses are adapting quickly. Plug-in hybrid registrations among large corporates rose from 5.8 to 8.9 percent, while the figure for SMEs climbed from 9.4 to 13.5 percent. Renting lets these companies update their fleets without tying up capital, speeding up the transition more than many expected.
For companies planning their next steps, plug-in hybrids offer a practical bridge: they suit commutes in cities and longer journeys, while reducing fuel costs and limiting exposure as diesel’s future becomes uncertain. Diesel will remain in commercial vans until charging points become much more common. The shift away from diesel is happening gradually, one segment at a time.
As reported earlier, new regulations and changing road priorities are already affecting how vehicles are used and managed in Spain. The move to electrified fleets is a clear sign of this shift, with the rental sector acting as a test ground for change.
Google/SpainAuto data points to the next basic stage at the end of 2026, when the impact of these new orders is expected to appear in the active fleet. Spanish businesses are driving the country’s energy transition through their purchasing decisions, and the rental model is testing electrification in practice. Companies relying on diesel for the long term are running out of options.
