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Germany’s new-car market enjoyed its second consecutive month of growth in August. While electric vehicles (EVs) appeared to push this positive momentum, some industry voices remained cautious. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus reviews the developments.
With 207,229 new cars delivered, the German new-car market grew by 5% year on year in August, the KBA confirmed. This follows an 11.1% rebound in July and underscores growing momentum, particularly for EVs.
However, with a 1.2% increase recorded in May, this was only the third month of positivity so far in 2025. January, February, March and April all saw single-digit declines, while registrations fell by 13.8% in June.
This meant deliveries were still down in the year to date. Autovista24 calculations reveal that 1,874,805 new passenger cars took to the country’s roads, down 1.7% year on year. This improved on the 4.7% year-to-date decline recorded in June, the lowest point of the year so far.
The VDA highlighted that the German new-car market still lags significantly behind August 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the body, registrations remain one quarter lower compared to this period.
With 39,367 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) delivered in Germany during August, the country’s all-electric market grew by 45.7%. This meant the powertrain represented 19% of all registrations in the country, up by 5.3 percentage points (pp).
The year-to-date numbers were slightly behind, with growth of 39.2%, according to Autovista24 calculations, as 336,707 BEVs were delivered. Meanwhile, the powertrain’s market share increased by 5.3pp year on year to 18%.
Enjoying an even greater rate of growth, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) figures increased by 76.7% in August. The powertrain’s registration total hit 23,973 units, equating to an 11.6% share, up 4.7pp.
In the year to date, Autovista24 calculates that PHEVs accounted for 10.1% all registrations, up by 4pp. This was thanks to 190,075 deliveries, up by 61.2% compared with the first eight months of 2024.
Combined, the two powertrains accounted for 30.6% of the German new-car market in August, up by 10pp. This means EV registrations increased by 56.1% to 63,340 units. In the year to date, the EV share grew by 9.2pp to 28.1% as 526,782 plug-ins were delivered, up 46.4%.
‘These figures highlight the accelerating shift towards electric mobility in Germany, supported by both consumer demand and manufacturer offerings,’ commented Robert Madas, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations.
A new survey of 1,048 people conducted on behalf of the VDA revealed consumer mobility preferences in the German market. Only 22% of respondents could imagine buying an electric car in the next few years. This number has stayed effectively static since 2021.
Of those surveyed, 60% rejected the technology for various reasons. Meanwhile, openness to electric cars appeared evident among those below the age of 30 and those of higher socioeconomic status.
The primary motivations for purchasing an electric car included reduced taxes and insurance costs. Additional factors were environmental considerations, extended ranges, lower noise levels, rising fuel prices, and the continued development of charging infrastructure.
‘German manufacturers already offer around 110 different electric models on the German market alone, and the variety, also in the lower segments, will continue to grow,’ said Hildegard Müller, president of the VDA.
She argued for federal government incentives to boost electric mobility and for greater charging affordability. Müller said the federal government must also reduce ancillary electricity costs.
‘Furthermore, it must immediately ensure that the extension of the vehicle tax exemption for electric vehicles until 2035, as promised in the coalition agreement, is implemented,’ she added.
Separately, Müller highlighted that: ‘The price of electricity in Germany is currently up to three times higher than in the US or China.’ She added that the high electricity costs are burdening the competitiveness of companies in the German automotive industry. The ramp-up of electric mobility is also facing friction because charging is too expensive.
The ZDK asserted that August’s EV growth was deceptive, as most of the growth was not coming from consumers. Instead, the body pointed towards tactical registrations and a growing number of lease returns. This only serves to put more pressure on Germany’s used EVs.
‘Demand from private customers for new electric vehicles remains too weak, the market continues to be artificially inflated by self-registrations by manufacturers and dealers. The current figures conceal the fact that we still haven’t achieved a sustainable breakthrough in electromobility,’ said ZDK President Thomas Peckruhn.
‘The private market urgently needs targeted stimulus, such as a reduction in the still excessively high price of charging current, to achieve a stable foundation,’ he added. ‘BEV demand for new private and commercial registrations is stagnating, even though there is now a good selection of BEV models at affordable prices in dealerships.
‘Registration numbers alone are not proof of market penetration. What matters is whether e-mobility also appeals to private customers, and that is precisely not the case at the moment,’ Peckruhn concluded.
Hybrids, including full and mild powertrains, saw another varied performance in August. The 5.1% year-on-year rate of growth was down from the 15.5% increase in July, but above June’s 1% stagnation.
With 58,605 deliveries, hybrids accounted for 28.3% of new-car registrations, the same share from 12 months prior. The powertrain grouping saw its share grow by 3pp in the year to date as 533,743 units hit the road. This was up by 10.1% year on year.
Combining hybrid and EV registrations, electrified models made up 58.8% of the German new-car market in August, up 10pp. Deliveries increased by 26.5% to 121,945 units. In the year to date, electrified sales grew by 25.6%, with 1,060,525 deliveries, according to Autovista24 calculations. This equated to a market share of 56.6%, up by 12.3pp.
Amid electrified growth, internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles continued to feel the heat. Registrations of petrol-powered models fell by 18.2% in August to 57,253 units. This meant its market share dropped by 7.8pp to 27.6%.
This drop was more severe in the year to date as the petrol share hit 28.1%, down 8.8%. Registrations reached 526,904, based on Autovista24 analysis, dropping 25.2% year on year. This equated to 177,086 fewer units, the biggest fall of any powertrain.
Following July, diesel’s slower descent continued in August, with deliveries down 9.2% to 27,219 units. Its market share hit 13.1%, down by 2.1pp.
These two single-digit decreases could not soften the blow of the previous double-digit drops. Between January and August, 279,130 diesel models were registered, equating to a fall of 19.9%. This meant the fuel type made up 14.9% of the market, down 3.4pp.
Combining these two powertrains, ICE models accounted for 40.8% of sales in August. This was thanks to 84,472 registrations, down 15.5%. In the year to date, the grouping suffered a 23.4% descent to 806,034 units, Autovista24 calculated. This meant ICE made up 43% of the market, down 12.2pp.
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