Strong rebound, but Chinese competition intensifies pressure
Germany’s electric vehicle market recorded a sharp rebound in 2025, with sales rising by more than 40%, according to data cited by AFP and reported by Agerpres. Despite the growth, German automakers still face major challenges, particularly from rapidly expanding Chinese competitors.
Figures from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) show that 545,000 fully electric vehicles were registered last year, up 43.2% compared with 2024. Analysts note that this increase mainly reflects a recovery after a difficult 2024, following the removal of government incentives for EV purchases.
Read also: Global EV sales hit record 2.1 million units in September
“We are not yet seeing a real boom,” said Constantin Gall of EY, adding that Germany’s shift to electromobility is proving longer and more complex than expected.
Fully electric cars reached a record 19.1% market share in 2025. At the same time, German manufacturers are increasingly challenged by Chinese brands. BYD, now the world’s leading EV producer, increased its German sales eightfold to 23,000 units. While its market share remains at 0.8%, it is steadily gaining ground in a market still dominated by Volkswagen (19.6%) and Mercedes-Benz (9.1%).
Overall, 2.9 million new cars were registered in Germany last year, up 1.4% from 2024, but still around 750,000 units below pre-pandemic levels. Hybrids remain the most popular option, with a 39.5% market share, while petrol and diesel registrations continue to decline.
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