In a letter to the European Commission and President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s cycling sector is asking to include (E-)bikes in the so-called Greening Corporate Fleets initiative. While the initiative currently mainly focuses on electric cars and vans, broadening the approach could benefit the decarbonisation goals.
The Greening Corporate Fleets initiative is part of the European Green Deal’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which aims for transport emissions to be reduced by 90% by 2050 compared to the levels measured in 1990. In order to achieve this, corporate fleets should be transitioned to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
🚲Europe’s cycling sector is calling on @ec.europa.eu & President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu to include bikes & e-bikes in the #GreeningCorporateFleets initiative. 📢 A mode-neutral approach is essential. Bikes are already transforming how businesses move—clean, cost-effective, and made in Europe.
— European Cyclists' Federation (@ecf.com) 24 июня 2025 г. в 09:28
A public consultation concerning the Greening Corporate Fleets initiative was launched at the start of 2024. The aim was to determine those mechanisms that could and should be used to facilitate the transition, including mandatory targets and incentives. In a letter from September 2024, Ursula von der Leyen asked the Commissioner-designate for Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, to “put forward a legislative proposal for clean corporate fleets”. However, at the moment, the initiative seems to be focusing on electrifying cars and vans.
With the adoption by the Commission coming closer, Europe’s cycling sector is now urging Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission to adopt a mode-neutral approach that gives bikes a rightful place alongside other modes in Europe’s corporate fleet transition while at the same time giving companies more flexibility in how to achieve this transition. According to the sector, the (E-)bike industry is a fast-growing, European-made sector that is already driving zero-emission mobility, industrial growth, and jobs.
Cycling isn’t just good for your health – It’s good for the planet, our cities, and the economy.
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) June 3, 2025
✅ Over 92,000 km of EuroVelo cycling routes across Europe
✅ Nearly 10 million bicycles produced yearly in the EU
✅ 1.35 million jobs supported by the EU cycling sector pic.twitter.com/yXLbsZ9jfk
“To meet its decarbonisation targets and boost industrial competitiveness, Europe must support all clean mobility solutions—not just electric cars. Company bike leasing is a European success story already transforming how businesses and employees move across Member States,” said Paul Walsh, CEO of Cycling Industries Europe.
A growing industry, made in Europe
According to the sector, bike leasing models have already proven their success, among others in Germany and Belgium. In those countries, employers have the possibility to offer bicycles and e-bikes as a tax-efficient benefit in kind. In Germany, this resulted in 1.9 million company bikes on the road in 2023 and in Belgium, 27% of employees have access to a leased company bike.
Moreover, the cycling industry is an important part of Europe’s economy. In 2023, over 11.7 million bicycles were sold across the continent. As 90% of e-bikes sold in the EU are made in Europe, the sector currently supports 1.35 million jobs. This resulted in €19.3 billion in revenue from bicycle and e-bike sales alone, servicing not included.
With all this in mind, the cycling sector thus asks the Commission to make (E-)bikes an integral part of the Greening Corporate Fleets initiative, following the example of countries such as Belgium and Germany.
“The case for bikes is clear—zero emissions, high in demand by users, and already delivering results for economy, environment and society. We urge the Commission to adopt a future-proof and inclusive approach that reflects the full spectrum of Europe’s clean and healthy mobility solutions,” said Jill Warren, CEO of European Cyclists’ Federation.
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— My Zero Carbon #ClimateAction (@MyZeroCarbon) June 18, 2025
Europe has launched its largest ever cycling initiative
via @WEF
Replacing a single car trip with a bike or e-bike journey can reduce your CO2 emissions by 0.5 tonnes p.a.. Regular cycling is linked to a 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality
Cycling 🚴🏽#ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/rCktAY6Gaq
A broader path to corporate fleet decarbonisation
The cycling sector believes that achieving Europe’s climate and economic ambitions requires an inclusive definition of zero-emission transport. By integrating (e-)bikes into the Greening Corporate Fleets initiative, the European Commission has the opportunity to recognize a fast-growing, European-made industry that contributes not only to environmental goals but also to job creation and industrial innovation.
Rather than limiting fleet decarbonisation to electric cars and vans, a more flexible and mode-neutral policy can empower companies across Europe to adopt mobility solutions that fit their operational needs. Cycling—already transforming corporate mobility in countries like Belgium and Germany—deserves a central place in this transition.
The Commission now has a pivotal opportunity to adopt a future-proof framework that fully leverages the potential of all clean mobility solutions, ensuring that the transformation of corporate fleets aligns with Europe’s broader goals of decarbonisation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
