How does a company car fit into the mobility budget?

In a recent webinar with Lizy, we've discussed the possibility of a car in the mobility budget Pillar 1 with HR expert Liesbeth from Transmare Chemie. She shared her experience with Mbrella and Lizy. Choices, policy, and peace of mind.

From Traditional Fleet to Flexible Mobility Policy

Until recently, the mobility policy of many Belgian companies revolved mainly around traditional lease cars, fuel cards, and parking costs. But the combination of climate goals, taxation, and changing employee expectations is forcing companies to think differently.

"Previously, we had a traditional fleet policy with leasing and insurance," says Liesbeth, HR manager at Transmare Chemie. "But the impact on our cash flow and CO₂ footprint was significant. That's why we deliberately chose to limit the number of company-owned cars and introduce the mobility budget."

The mobility budget allows employees to spend their company car budget flexibly, divided across three pillars:

• Pillar 1: an environmentally friendly company car (mandatory electric from 2026)
• Pillar 2: sustainable mobility (bicycle, public transport, shared mobility, etc.)
• Pillar 3: cash allowance for housing costs or sustainable leisure activities

For employers, this means: more freedom of choice for employees, but also more complex administration. And that's exactly where tools like Mbrella (software to manage mobility budgets) and Lizy (leasing partner) come into play.

Why the Combination of Mbrella and Lizy Works

Transmare Chemie deliberately chose a three-party approach: employer, Mbrella, and Lizy. This ensures smooth system integration, allowing HR and employees to benefit from automated processing of TCO calculations and receipts. This means HR no longer has to manually check receipts, and employees can directly visualize their budget and choices. According to Liesbeth,

The major advantages for us are peace of mind, flexibility, and freedom of choice for employees."

Through this collaboration, lease contracts can be easily managed via the mobility budget, while the company maintains clear policy guidelines. This makes the process transparent, compliant, and straightforward, without additional administrative burden for HR.

Choice, Wellbeing, and Employer Branding

The mobility budget fits perfectly within a "menu card culture", as Liesbeth calls it.

"People today want choice, both personally and professionally. With the mobility budget, employees can decide for themselves how they travel or spend their budget. This leads to greater satisfaction and less stress."

For Transmare Chemie, implementing the mobility budget meant more than financial optimization — it's an asset for employer branding:

"Job applicants ask about it. Just like hospitalization insurance, it's becoming almost expected that an employer offers a mobility budget."

The results speak for themselves:

• Higher employee satisfaction, especially among younger employees who more often choose sustainable alternatives.
• Cost neutrality for the employer, thanks to the fixed budget per employee.
• Reduced administrative burden through integration between leasing partner and mobility tool.
• Clear policy guidelines: pillar 1 only for management, pillar 2 open to everyone.

Tips for HR and Fleet Managers Getting Started

Does your organization want to get started with the mobility budget and company cars (pillar 1)?

These practical tips came up frequently during the webinar:

1. 🧭 Map out your employees' mobility needs: First research how people currently travel and what their expectations are.
2. 📘 Develop a clear car and mobility policy: Define what is and isn't possible per job category. Transparency prevents discussions.
3. ⚙️ Automate as much as possible: Use integrated tools like Mbrella and Lizy for TCO calculation, receipt management, and reporting.
4. 💬 Communicate clearly: Involve employees in the process and explain how the calculation and budget allocation work.
5. 🔋 Prepare for 2026: From then on, only electric cars will be allowed in pillar 1. Start the transition now.

Conclusion: From Complexity to Peace of Mind

The mobility budget is often seen as complex, but companies like Transmare Chemie prove otherwise.

"For us, it's achievable," says Liesbeth. "It offers flexibility, peace of mind, and satisfied employees. We don't see the mobility budget disappearing from our policy anytime soon."

The company car is not disappearing but evolving. And with the mobility budget, it gets a new place: as a sustainable choice within a flexible and forward-looking HR policy.

Want to know more?

👉 View the replay of the webinar here

👉 Request a demo with Mbrella here

👉 Visit the Lizy website here

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