New car registrations in Germany rose 16.6 percent year-on-year to 281,361 in March. During the first quarter of 2023, a total of 666,818 cars were registered (up 6.5% year-on-year).
Meanwhile, the plug-in electric car segment saw a slight decline of 1.4 percent year-on-year to 60,901 registrations. This is due to the collapse of plug-in hybrid sales ($4,930/€4,500 this year without the incentive). Plug-in hybrids recorded 16,776 registrations (down 39 percent), accounting for 6.0 percent of total volume.
For battery electric car (BEV) sales, the incentives are still available this year, but have been reduced (to $4,930/€4,500 for models below $43,824/€40,000 and $3,286/ €3,000 for models under $71,217 / €65,000). BEV registrations in March rose 28 percent year-on-year to 44,125, accounting for nearly 16 percent of the auto market.
We assume that the situation will improve by the end of the year, due to more models and sometimes significantly lower prices.
Registration of new plug-in vehicles:
- BEV: 44,125, 28% more with a market share of 15.7%.
- PHEV: 16,776, down 39% with a 6.0% market share.
- Total: 60,901 – 1.4% less with a market share of 21.6%.
So far this year, more than 132,000 plug-in electric passenger cars have been registered in Germany, which is 13 percent less than a year ago.
Annual registrations:
- BEV: 94,736, up 13% with a market share of 14.2%.
- PHEV: 37,545, down 45% with a market share of 5.6%.
- Total: 132,281 – 13% less with a market share of 19.8%.
For reference, more than 832,000 new plug-in passenger cars were registered in Germany in 2022, compared to more than 681,000 in 2021.
In March, Tesla was again the number one brand in terms of plug-in electric car registrations (8,703 units).
However, it is worth noting that Volkswagen (7,422 BEV/PHEV) and Mercedes-Benz (7,342 BEV/PHEV) were not far behind. Tesla’s main advantage is that it sells only BEVs, and here the difference is greater (Volkswagen noted 6,471 BEVs while Mercedes-Benz sold 3,269 BEVs).
Registration of connected cars by brand (at least 1,000) last month:
- Tesla: 8703 – 8703 BEV
- Volkswagen: 7422 – 6471 BEV and 951 PHEV
- Mercedes-Benz: 7342 – 3269 BEVs and 4073 PHEVs
- Audi: 4864 – 2870 BEV and 1994 PHEV
- BMW: 4284 – 2373 BEVs and 1911 PHEVs
- Hyundai: 2799 – 2401 BEV and 398 PHEV
- Seat: 2459 – 1264 BEV and 1195 PHEV
- Volvo: 2066 – 994 BEVs and 1072 PHEVs
- smart: 1809 – 1809 BEV
- MG Roewe: 1776 – 1775 BEV and 1 PHEV
- Opel: 1571 – 943 BEV and 628 PHEV
- Fiat: 1552 – 1552 BEV
- Renault: 1505 – 1348 BEV and 157 PHEV
- Skoda: 1470 – 1208 BEV and 262 PHEV
- Kia: 1440 – 957 BEV and 483 PHEV
- Peugeot: 1407 – 1052 BEV and 355 PHEV
- MINI: 1349 – 1300 BEV and 49 PHEV
- Ford: 1140 – 438 BEV and 702 PHEV
After March, Tesla strengthened at the top, with more than 20,000 BEVs. For reference, Volkswagen’s BEV sales totaled 13,443 (if other brands in the group are included, the German manufacturer is ahead of Tesla).
Registration of connected cars by brand (at least 3,000) since:
- Tesla: 20655 – 20655 BEV
- Volkswagen: 16446 – 13443 BEVs and 3003 PHEVs
- Mercedes-Benz: 15855 – 7298 BEVs and 8557 PHEVs
- Audi: 11587 – 7637 BEVs and 3950 PHEVs
- BMW: 8384 – 4334 BEV and 4050 PHEV
- Hyundai: 6074 – 5394 BEV and 680 PHEV
- Seat: 5511 – 2445 BEV and 3066 PHEV
- Volvo: 4548 – 2284 BEV and 2264 PHEV
- Skoda: 3891 – 2736 BEVs and 1155 PHEVs
- smart: 3380 – 3380 BEV
- Opel: 3352 – 2113 BEV and 1239 PHEV
- Peugeot: 3298 – 2235 BEV and 1063 PHEV
- MG Roewe: 3131 – 3117 BEVs and 14 PHEVs
- Fiat: 3125 – 3125 BEV
In terms of models, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling electric car in March and the first quarter. Last month, the Model Y scored 5,071 units (up 125% year-on-year), while in the first quarter it was 15,851.
The next three best-selling BEVs were the Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 (3,212 and 6,782 YTD), Volkswagen ID.3 (2,582 and 5,285 YTD) and the Tesla Model 3 (2,560 and 4,188 YTD).
The best all-electric models to date:
- Tesla Model Y – 15,851
- Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 – 6,782
- Volkswagen ID.3 – 5,285
- Tesla Model 3 – 4,188
