Turin / Rome, July xx, 2026
More environmentally conscious, forward-planning, and oriented towards longer holidays. This is the portrait of travellers for summer 2026 captured by the new Drivalia Observatory, which analyzed booking trends for the summer quarter (June-August 2026). The rental and mobility company of the CA Auto Bank Group examined over 50,000 bookings for short-term rentals. The results speak clearly: the choice of low-emission cars is now a well-established reality, bookings are made further in advance, stays are longer, and international tourism takes the lion’s share.
According to the results, summer 2026 is traveling “plugged-in”: electrified cars represent the majority of preferences, capturing 54% of Drivalia’s summer rentals. Hybrid models take the lion’s share, rising to 44% of overall choices (gaining two percentage points compared to last year’s 42%), flanked by electric vehicles which remain stable at 10%. This step change in sustainable mobility translates into a progressive contraction of traditional petrol and diesel engines: internal combustion engines continue to lose ground, dropping from 48% in summer 2025 to the current 46%.
The Observatory reveals other interesting data regarding travelers’ habits. To optimize budgets and lock in the best rates, the average booking lead time has risen to 31 days (compared to 24 in 2025). The average rental duration has also extended to 9 days (up from an average of 8 last year). This choice is driven by the need to optimize costs: instead of taking multiple trips, the budget is focused on a single, longer stay.
Demographic analysis confirms Italy’s strong attractiveness for foreign tourism: as much as 61% of bookings come from abroad. At the top of the ranking of countries of origin is Italy with 38%, closely followed by Germany, which, with 26% of bookings, confirms its status as the leading foreign market. Bookings from the United States (17%) and France (15%) follow. These numbers certify the strong international appeal of the Peninsula for summer vacations.
Geographically, the South and the Islands see a boom in bookings, being undisputed as the most requested destinations, led by Sicily, Sardinia, and Puglia. Sicily conquers the top of the ranking, accounting for 16.9% of total bookings. Sardinia follows closely with 15.8% and Puglia with 14.5%. The appeal of the islands becomes even more pronounced when analyzing the sub-segment of customers choosing electrified vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs): in this case, Sardinia rises to first place with 19.2% of preferences, followed by Sicily and Puglia, both at 16.2%.
In a complex economic context, and in the face of current uncertainties, consumers are not giving up on vacations but are choosing to plan them with greater awareness and foresight. On one hand, the historic overtaking by green engines, which exceed 50% of preferences, demonstrates a now structural maturity towards sustainable tourism. On the other hand, the increase in booking lead time and rental duration responds to the need to optimize time and costs, transforming rentals into the cornerstone of a more conscious journey.
Methodological note: the Drivalia Observatory database examined, as of the extraction date of June 25, 2026, short-term rental (STR) vehicle reservations for the June-August 2026 period (over 50,000) compared to the same quarter in 2025, made through all available channels.
Drivalia
Drivalia, the rental and mobility company of the CA Auto Bank Group, offers a comprehensive range of mobility solutions, from electric car sharing and innovative car subscription services to short-, medium-, and long-term vehicle rental. Drivalia provides 360-degree mobility solutions through innovative services that combine flexibility, digital accessibility, on-demand usage, and sustainability. In June 2019, the company launched its network of Mobility Stores, physical locations where customers can access the full range of mobility services offered by Drivalia. With the opening of its first fully electrified Mobility Store at Turin Caselle Airport in 2020, followed by many others, Drivalia has become a leading player in sustainable mobility. Today, with more than 1,900 charging points installed across its Mobility Stores, the company operates the largest private electrified charging network in Italy. During 2026, the electrification project will continue to expand across the European countries where Drivalia operates.
For more information: www.drivalia.com