The 7 mobility trends shaping 2026

What will mobility look like in your organisation in 2026? It’s a crucial question, as legislation and regulation, sustainability ambitions, technological innovation and cost developments are forcing organisations to make smart choices. Mobility is no longer merely a secondary employment benefit, but a strategic instrument that contributes to efficiency, sustainability and employee satisfaction. In this article, we outline the seven key mobility trends for 2026 that will shape how employers can design their mobility policies effectively and in a future-proof way.

The world of corporate mobility is changing. Rising costs, new fiscal levies and the gradual phasing out of tax benefits are making traditional fuel-powered cars structurally more expensive. Electric driving offers opportunities, but also comes with practical challenges such as charging infrastructure, driving range and taxation on private use. At the same time, demand for greater freedom is growing: employees want to choose for themselves how they travel.

Mobility budgets respond perfectly to this shift. Within a set budget, employees can create their own mix of transport options: a (lease) car, public transport, bicycle or a combination of these. Since 2025, public transport costs for private use can also be offset against the gross mobility budget, providing an additional tax incentive. This increases flexibility and satisfaction while encouraging more conscious travel choices. For employers, mobility budgets offer the ability to provide freedom of choice while still steering costs and sustainability. In 2026, mobility budgets will therefore continue to gain ground and become an essential element of future-proof mobility policies for many organisations.

Learn how EY has successfully implemented a mobility budget

Hybrid working has become the norm for many organisations. While this gives employees more autonomy, it also puts new pressure on mobility. Many employees choose to come to the office on the same days, resulting in congested roads and full car parks on, for example, Tuesdays and Thursdays — the so-called “camel week” — while other days remain relatively quiet. This uneven travel pattern leads to inefficient travel times, underutilised facilities and employee frustration.

In 2026, organisations increasingly approach work and travel as an integrated whole. Flexible mobility options such as carpooling, public transport and electric shared mobility, incentives to avoid peak hours, reservation systems for parking and workspaces, and location-independent working all support this approach. Travel and remote working days are registered in a single platform, and travel and usage data are analysed to optimise mobility. By actively managing mobility, organisations create space — on the road, in the office, in employees’ schedules and even in their heads.

Digitalisation and AI are making mobility management faster and simpler. Where processes previously relied on fragmented systems and manual actions, digital platforms now take over recurring tasks such as expense processing, changes, budget control and reporting. This reduces administrative burden and makes mobility easier to manage by analysing historical data, modelling future scenarios and enabling well-informed decisions.

In 2026, this power truly comes into its own when data-driven insights are combined with the experience of employees and mobility experts. The result is mobility policy that is not only more efficient, but also better aligned with employee needs and organisational objectives.

In a tight labour market, it is no longer just about salary, but about the total employment package. Mobility plays an increasingly important role in this: how employees travel, how much freedom they experience and how simple and sustainable that travel is, says a great deal about an employer. Rigid arrangements no longer meet today’s expectations; employees are looking for flexibility and customisation.

In 2026, mobility is a core element of the employee experience. Organisations that organise mobility in a simple, transparent and flexible way increase their attractiveness as employers while strengthening engagement and satisfaction. Mobility thus becomes a tangible expression of good employership that employees experience on a daily basis.

Corporate mobility is one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions within organisations and is high on the agenda. Sustainability dashboards and reports provide insight into how employees travel and the impact this has. For large organisations, CO₂ reporting (WPM is mandatory, but more and more employers take a broader view: understanding travel behaviour is essential for making targeted and effective decisions.

In 2026, sustainable travel goes beyond measurement and accountability. Organisations translate data into concrete actions, such as encouraging the use of public transport and bicycles, deploying shared mobility solutions and rewarding sustainable choices through reimbursements or incentives. Conscious mobility management thus becomes a shared responsibility and a natural part of modern employership.

Many employees follow habitual travel patterns, even when more sustainable alternatives are available. Policy on paper is therefore not enough: real behavioural change takes time and requires choices to be attractive, accessible and easy to use.

In 2026, this means that all transport options are available through a user-friendly mobility app, with minimal barriers and no administrative hassle. By actively involving employees, making successes visible and rewarding sustainable travel, a culture gradually emerges in which conscious travel becomes second nature.

Corporate mobility is becoming increasingly complex. A wider range of transport options, greater freedom of choice for employees and stricter rules around taxation, sustainability and reporting make it harder to maintain oversight and lead to fragmented processes.

As a result, more and more employers are choosing to outsource mobility to a single specialised partner. By bundling everything together, organisations gain clarity and peace of mind: one platform for all modes of transport, up-to-date reporting and better steering information. One partner who continuously thinks along and innovates.

In 2026, outsourcing is the strategic choice for organising complex mobility efficiently, offering employees maximum freedom and making optimal use of data.

These seven mobility trends show that corporate mobility is no longer an operational issue. It touches strategy, sustainability goals and attractive employership. From mobility budgets to outsourcing, and from flexible working to data-driven insights, each development helps organisations manage costs, behaviour and impact more consciously. Those who respond to these trends turn mobility into a powerful instrument for employee satisfaction, efficiency and sustainability — laying a solid foundation for future-proof mobility policy in 2026 and beyond.

Would you like to organise corporate mobility smartly and respond to the trends of 2026? Together with our mobility experts, explore the possibilities of our digital mobility platform. Everything arranged in one place: flexible, sustainable and always up to date. Schedule an appointment.