The car rental company is off to a strong start in 2026 and is expanding its fleet for corporate clients

The car rental sector has started 2026 on a clearly positive note. According to MSI data for Feneval, registrations grew by 15.5% in the first quarter, reaching 82,526 units, which strengthens the operational capacity of rental companies at a time of increasing activity in business travel.

March, however, saw a more moderate trend, with an increase of 4.12% and a total of 44,104 registrations for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. At the same time, the business and private sectors recorded more significant increases, of 16.71% and 16.44%, respectively, pointing to greater pressure on vehicle availability during certain periods.

For the corporate segment, this trend generally represents an improvement in fleet availability, which is particularly relevant in high-demand contexts linked to trade shows, conferences, and major events. However, the increased dynamism of the corporate channel could lead to occasional shortages in specific destinations or on key dates, requiring more robust planning and advance booking.

Regarding vehicle types, the data reflects a still uneven transition toward more sustainable models. Hybrid engines, especially gasoline-electric combinations, lead monthly growth with very significant increases, while fully electric vehicles have seen their market share drop to 1.14%. This trend confirms that, despite regulatory momentum and the ESG goals of many companies, the actual availability of electric vehicles in the car rental sector remains limited.

By autonomous community, Catalonia stands out as the market with the highest growth in March, with an increase of 132.67%, followed by Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, which also recorded increases of over 100%. On the other hand, Cantabria, Asturias, and Aragon show the largest declines, painting an uneven picture that may impact fleet availability across regions.

Overall, the start of the year consolidates the role of car rental as a key component of corporate mobility, although challenges remain in terms of electrification and the balance between supply and demand.