Nlt: the share of private individuals and the public sector is growing, whilst diesel’s share falls to 39 per cent
The traditional model, whereby a vehicle is allocated exclusively to a single customer for more than 12 months, remains at the heart of the market
According to Aniasa, the fleet of vehicles on long-term hire (Nlt) reached 1,356,600 units in the first half of 2026, representing a 2.8 per cent increase compared with the figure recorded at the end of 2025. This result confirms a growth trend that has been well established for over fifteen years and demonstrates the sector’s maturity amongst large companies, alongside continued expansion amongst SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and private customers. Traditional long-term hire – that is, where a vehicle is exclusively allocated to a single customer for a period exceeding 12 months – still represents the core of the market, with 1,282,600 vehicles, accounting for 95 per cent of the total fleet. The other operating models therefore remain marginal in terms of percentage share. The share allocated to customers’ temporary needs, such as small fleets and flexible solutions lasting longer than 12 months, totals 28,200 vehicles and accounts for 2 per cent of the total, representing a 3 per cent increase compared with 2025. The ‘rent-to-rent’ segment – that is, vehicles leased to car-hire operators – is more dynamic, reaching 45,500 units. Although it accounts for 3 per cent of the fleet on the road, it is the area with the strongest growth: +29 per cent compared with the end of 2025.
Businesses always at the heart of things
Businesses remain the main customer base for long-term car hire. In the first half of 2026, the fleet dedicated to them totalled 1,012,400 vehicles, accounting for 75 per cent of the total, thereby consolidating the role of car hire as a now-established solution for managing corporate mobility. Growth compared with the end of 2025 stood at 1.4 per cent.
Meanwhile, the private sector continues to expand, comprising both individuals and VAT-registered businesses. Overall, the fleet exceeds 195,900 vehicles, representing an increase of 6.1 per cent, bringing its share of the total to 15 per cent. More specifically, private individuals with a tax code have seen a 6.7 per cent rise to 105,571 vehicles, whilst those with a VAT number have increased by 5.4 per cent, reaching 90,370 vehicles. This trend confirms the gradual growth – albeit not at a breakneck pace – of car hire amongst both private individuals and professionals.
The public sector (PA) was the most dynamic segment of the half-year: the fleet rose to 148,800 vehicles, representing a 9.2 per cent increase compared with 2025, with its share of the total rising from 10 per cent to 11 per cent. This result means that the public sector’s share of the long-term hire market remains more or less constant.
Power supplies
The composition of the long-term hire fleet in the first half of 2026 confirms the ongoing shift in vehicle powertrains. Diesel remains the most common powertrain with 535,486 vehicles, but its share has fallen to 39 per cent of the total, down two percentage points compared with 2025 and continuing a now structural decline. Full hybrid (HEV) vehicles have consolidated their second-place position and have become the segment driving the most significant growth: the fleet now stands at 456,730 units, accounting for 34 per cent of the total, representing an increase of 4.2 per cent. Today, more than one in three rental vehicles is fitted with this technology.
