This article was translated using the help of AI
Sustainability does not start with words, but with deeds. At SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, we not only keep our promises, we also put them into practice. We see our vehicle fleet as an effective lever for reducing CO2-reduction. That’s why we will electrify the entire SMG vehicle fleet by mid-2028.
Technological advances show that electromobility is suitable for everyday use. Firstly, ranges of 500 to 650 kilometers have long been a reality – and secondly, charging is also much faster than it was just a few years ago. Two criteria that enable us at the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group to combine operational requirements and ecological goals. Since 2023, we have been gradually replacing our vehicles with fully electric models – whenever the lease term ends.
Today, 82 percent of the vehicle fleet is already electrified – 64 percent of which is fully electric and 18 percent hybrid. Only 18% are still powered by fossil fuels; the majority of these will be replaced by mid-2026. For Thomas Willi, Head of Facility Management at SMG and responsible for the vehicle fleet, it is clear that the project will make an important contribution to reducing emissions in the long term. Sustainability does not mean replacing everything as quickly as possible, but acting consciously and sensibly. “Replacing efficient vehicles just for the sake of a green image contradicts our understanding of responsible action,” says Willi.
Plus for comfort, the environment and employees
Today, company vehicles stand less for status and more for functionality and sustainability. The vehicle is a professional tool. Convenience features such as quiet driving, pre-cooling or pre-heating via app, reduced maintenance costs and the longer service life of batteries make the switch to electric mobility attractive.
Another advantage: unlike imported oil, electricity can be produced in Switzerland. From a sustainability perspective, this is crucial, as the Swiss electricity mix consists mainly of renewable sources – around 60 percent from hydropower. At our SMG locations in Switzerland, we therefore charge exclusively with green electricity from hydro, wind and solar power.
There are now more charging stations for electric cars in Switzerland than traditional filling stations. Employees who charge their company car at home also receive financial support. This is how we break down barriers. Since the start of the electrification of our fleet in 2023, this step has helped us to reduce our ecological footprint. From 2023 to 2024, we were able to almost halve the emissions of our vehicle fleet.
New tasks for a new era
Of course, the switch to electromobility also brings challenges – one common argument is the longer charging time compared to conventional refueling. But many of these hurdles can be easily overcome in everyday life. The decisive factor is the willingness to rethink established routines. A charging stop becomes an opportunity: for a coffee break or to prepare for and follow up on an appointment.
With every charging process, every optimized route and every successfully integrated solution, we get closer to our goal. Electrifying our fleet is a logical step within our sustainability strategy; because change begins where responsibility is lived.
