The EU’s proposed rules to electrify commercial vehicle fleets are expected to drive up rental car prices, according to Sixt, the German car‑rental company. “If the vehicle costs rise, we will have to pass that on” CEO Konstantin Sixt told “Handelsblatt” in its Wednesday edition.
The Commission’s draft targets a share of low‑emission and zero‑emission vehicles in business fleets of up to 83 % by 2030, rising to 95 % by 2035 for Germany. Industry voices are increasingly critical. Sixt described the directive as a “rear‑door combustion‑vehicle coup” and warned that customers could face higher costs, operational hurdles, and a growing dependency on Chinese battery suppliers. Recent proposals from elements of the German federal government and the EU Parliament seek to further loosen the package.
The rule is part of the broader Automotive Package that the Commission presented at the end of 2025, and it is now in negotiation between the European Parliament and the Council.