Arval reportedly in discussions for a potential acquisition of Athlon

In a significant move, French leasing company Arval is in talks with Mercedes-Benz to acquire its leasing subsidiary, Athlon. If successful, this acquisition would increase Arval's total fleet size to an impressive 2.2 million units, surpassing the 2 million mark and narrowing the gap with Ayvens, one of Europe's leading vehicle leasing providers.

Athlon, based in the Netherlands, is a prominent player in the European vehicle leasing market. With a presence in 20 countries and a total fleet of around 400,000 vehicles, the acquisition would significantly boost Arval's operations. The deal would also further reduce the number of major multibrand lessors in the European vehicle leasing market to just three: Arval, Ayvens, and Alphabet.

The sale of Athlon is expected to bring in approximately €1 billion for Mercedes-Benz. This strategic move is part of Mercedes-Benz's efforts to improve its financial position, as the company has had a challenging start to 2025. The company reported a year-on-year decrease in turnover of 8.6% to €66 billion and a 55.8% decrease in net results to €2.7 billion.

Besides BNP Paribas, other interested parties in the sale of Athlon include Credit Agricole, according to reports citing insiders familiar with the matter. It's worth noting that Athlon was previously owned by Dutch bank Rabobank before it was sold to Daimler AG for €1.1 billion in 2016.

Ayvens, the successor of ALD Automotive and LeasePlan, currently boasts a total fleet of 3.2 million vehicles worldwide. The successful acquisition of Athlon by Arval would not only increase Arval's fleet size but also intensify competition in the European vehicle leasing market.

As Arval and Mercedes-Benz continue negotiations, the potential acquisition of Athlon promises to reshape the European vehicle leasing landscape. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.