Car Sharing in the European Union in 2025

Car sharing remains one of the fastest-growing segments of urban mobility in the EU. Even with a crowded market, demand for short trips continues to increase, and shared cars are strengthening their position as a real alternative to private vehicles and traditional car rental companies.

This is a structured overview of the EU car-sharing market, including fleet size, density per capita, leading countries, electrification, and the key trends shaping 2025.

Market Overview (2024–2025)

Between 2024 and 2025, the European car-sharing market grew by around 8%, reaching an estimated 129,000 vehicles.

Fleet breakdown:

• 67,000 — free-floating car sharing (pay-per-minute trips)
• 62,000 — station-based car sharing

Across the EU, there are roughly 590 operators:

• ~470 operate station-based services
• ~80 operate free-floating fleets
• ~40 are involved in P2P car sharing

Free-floating services are often perceived as the equivalent of instant, pay-per-minute car rental in Europe, because users can start and end a trip anywhere within a designated zone.

Top 5 Markets and Fleet Density

To make the comparison clearer, the top markets and their car-sharing density per capita are combined below.

Top EU Countries by Fleet Size and Vehicles per 10,000 Residents

Key takeaways:

• Germany is the largest market by fleet size, with a mix of station-based operators (Cambio, Flinkster) and strong free-floating players (ShareNow, Miles).
• Belgium leads the EU in fleet density, making car sharing widely accessible despite its smaller overall fleet.
• The Netherlands remains one of the most mature shared-mobility ecosystems, supported by pro-mobility city policies and a dense charging network.

Why Poland Dropped Out of the Top Markets

In 2023–2024, Car Sharing in Poland was considered one of the largest markets in the EU.. However, the exit of Panek significantly changed the landscape. The market consolidated under Traficar, fleet size decreased, and Poland dropped out of the Top-5 despite maintaining high user demand.

Electric Vehicles in Europe’s Car Sharing

Electrification varies widely across EU countries due to differences in tax policies, charging infrastructure, operating costs, and city mobility strategies.

Spain — the clear leader

• 66%+ EVs
• 19%+ hybrids
• Only 15% with internal combustion engines

Strong government incentives and rapid expansion of charging stations support EV dominance.

Italy — a hybrid-heavy market

• 35% EVs
• 38% hybrids

Italy is shifting from fully electric fleets toward mixed setups due to real-world operational costs and service coverage requirements.

Netherlands — around 50% electrified fleets

The Netherlands remains one of Europe’s most EV-mature markets thanks to an extremely dense public charging network and long-term mobility incentives.

Germany — only 17% EVs

Although Germany is the EU’s largest car-sharing market, electrification grows slowly due to:

• high logistical costs for EV fleet maintenance
• insufficient fast-charging infrastructure for commercial fleets
• higher efficiency of hybrids for longer-distance urban trips

Germany is expected to grow its EV share gradually, but hybrids will remain the operational backbone of most fleets.

Real and Verified Interesting Facts

All facts below are real and supported by publicly available industry reports:

• ShareNow remains the largest free-floating operator in the EU, with major fleets in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
• Miles Mobility is Germany’s biggest operator when measured by total annual kilometers driven, thanks to its “pay-per-kilometer” pricing model.
• The Netherlands has the highest charging-station density in the entire EU, making it ideal for electric car-sharing fleets.
• Belgium is one of the few European markets where station-based car sharing grows faster than free-floating, driven by Cambio and municipal programs.
• In major EU cities, more than 30% of young drivers (18–29) actively use car-sharing services, showing a long-term cultural shift away from car ownership.

Key Car-Sharing Trends for 2025

1. Market consolidation

Smaller services are gradually leaving the market, while large operators strengthen their positions.

2. Growth of free-floating

This model continues to expand, acting as a fast, flexible alternative to taxis and private cars — essentially functioning as instant short-term car rental in Europe’s major cities.

3. Fleet optimization

Hybrid vehicles are becoming the most profitable and operationally stable choice for operators.

4. Strong municipal support

Cities like Berlin, Milan, Brussels, and Amsterdam integrate car sharing into their official transportation plans.

Forecast for 2025–2026

The market is expected to grow 6–10% annually, with:

• increasing dominance of free-floating in large metropolitan areas
• stable, predictable growth of station-based services
• uneven but steady electrification (Spain and Netherlands remain leaders)
• hybrids strengthening their role in Italy and Germany
• potential recovery of the Polish market only if a second major operator joins Traficar

Conclusion

Car sharing in the EU has entered a stage of stable, structured growth. With optimized fleet models, stronger city support, and shifting user behavior, shared mobility is becoming a core component of everyday transportation.

In 2025, car sharing in Europe is no longer an experiment — it is a mature mobility solution that reshapes how people move through cities.