Over 8 out of 10 electric cars purchased by companies now meet this standard.

The corporate electric vehicle market is undergoing a transformation. In the first half of 2026, 82.56% of models registered by businesses now meet the criteria for an eco-score. This is a remarkable increase in just two years, driven by the growing strength of French and European automakers.

The figure represents a real shift. In 2024, just over one out of every two electric vehicles registered by companies was on the list of electric vehicles eligible for the eco-score. Two years later, that proportion has now exceeded 8 out of 10 vehicles. According to data provided by Arval Mobility, 67,835 eco-scored electric vehicles were put into use by companies during the first half of 2026. This figure is already close to the total recorded for the entire year of 2025.

Accounting for 82.56% of corporate vehicle registrations in the first half of the year, models compatible with the eco-score are no longer a marginal part of the business market. They are becoming the standard.

The comparison with 2024 is particularly telling. At that time, monthly ratios usually hovered around 50%. In just two years, the professional market has clearly shifted toward vehicles capable of meeting the environmental requirements set by the eco-score.

A trend that’s no accident

This rush toward eco-scored models is certainly not just due to environmental awareness. For both companies and their employees, the valuable certification issued by ADEME translates into very tangible benefits.

For employees, everything comes down to the in-kind benefit. From February 1, 2025, until the end of 2027, a 100% electric car provided to an employee qualifies for a 70% reduction on their fixed-value in-kind benefit, with a cap of 4,641.60 € per year in 2026. However, this benefit is reserved only for models with high eco-scores. For an electric car that does not meet the minimum score requirement, the in-kind benefit is calculated without any reduction. On the pay slip, this difference is far from negligible, and employees are well aware of it when choosing their company vehicle.

For businesses, the eco-score also plays a role in fleet managers’ strategies. Since March 2025, companies with at least 100 vehicles are subject to an annual incentive tax if their fleet does not include a sufficient proportion of low-emission vehicles: 18% in 2026, with a base amount of 4,000 euros per vehicle missing. In this calculation, models with higher eco-scores receive greater weighting, helping to achieve the target more quickly. Additionally, there are EU “boost” grants available to professionals, which are also conditional on the eco-score.

In other words, choosing a model with a high eco-score has become as much a reflex for fleet managers as it is a choice for employees.

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Renault dominates the rankings by a large margin

This growth benefits French and European models in particular. In the first half of 2026, the Renault Scenic led far ahead with 9,190 registrations. This is more than twice the number of Tesla Model Y units registered, which totaled 4,528.

The electric Renault 5 completed the top three with 3,772 registrations. Behind it were the Skoda Elroq and Renault Mégane e-Tech. Thus, Renault had three models in the top five positions of the rankings. Together, they accounted for 16,604 registrations.

The French manufacturer is no longer the only one offering models suited to business needs. BMW, Ford, Volkswagen, Peugeot, and Citroën also made it into the top 10.

Top 10 electric cars with high eco-scores registered by businesses in the first half of 2026

Rank

Model

Registrations

Market share

1

Renault Scenic

9,190

13.5%

2

Tesla Model Y

4,528

6.7%

3

Renault 5

3,772

5.6%

4

Skoda Elroq

3,687

5.4%

5

Renault Mégane e-Tech

3,642

5.4%

6

BMW iX1

2,696

4.0%

7

Ford Explorer

2,561

3.8%

8

Volkswagen ID.4

2,505

3.7%

9

Peugeot e-3008

2,244

3.3%

10

Citroën ë-C3

1,920

2.8%

Source: AAA Data, processed by Arval Mobility Observatory. Market share calculated based on 67,835 eco-scored electric vehicles registered by companies in S1 2026.

The eco-score: a (temporary) shield against Chinese manufacturers

This European dominance can also be attributed to the nature of the eco-score itself. Contrary to what its name suggests, it does not measure emissions during use, but rather the carbon footprint of everything that occurs before the vehicle is put into circulation: material extraction, battery production, assembly, and transportation to France. A vehicle manufactured in China, where the electricity mix still relies heavily on coal, and then shipped by ship over thousands of kilometers, therefore finds it extremely difficult to meet the minimum score requirement.

Presented as an environmental tool, the eco-score actually functions as a disguised entry barrier. It inherently favors industrialized vehicles in Europe, such as the Tesla Model Y, which qualifies because it is assembled in Berlin for the European market. In contrast, the Dacia Spring, produced in China, suffered as soon as this system took effect at the end of 2023.

Chinese brands remain absent from the rankings of models with the highest eco-scores registered by companies. However, this situation could change. Thirteen factory projects are currently under consideration in Europe, seven of which have already been confirmed. Such European industrialization would enable their models to qualify and thus gain access to the lucrative fleet market.

BYD is among the most advanced groups in this field. After establishing operations in Hungary and launching a project in Turkey aimed at the European market, the manufacturer plans to build three automobile assembly plants and one battery factory in Europe in the long term. France and Spain are among the countries under consideration for its next production site, with a decision expected by the end of 2026.