While the main markets, adding the United States and China, reported the expansion in 2024 electric cars sales, the same cannot be said about Germany. In fact, electric cars were submerged in the country last year, 27. 4%less, because significant subsidies were reduced and the German economy was fighting. According to an analyst, 2024 represented a “year lost by electro-milks” in the country.
Germany is Europe’s largest and most important car market, but the figures don’t make for easy reading. In total, only 380,609 new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in the country last year, a sharp fall from 2023’s numbers and a slump that dragged EV market share down to just 13.5%. For a country often regarded as a bellwether for automotive trends in Europe, it’s a bleak showing.
The hybrid in the middle of the EV recession
As EVs struggled, traditional hybrids enjoyed a much rosier year in Germany. Hybrid sales jumped 12.7%, with 947,398 examples. That represents a 33.6% share of all new cars sold. Sales of plug-in hybrids also grew during the calendar year, rising by 9.2% to 191,905 units. Despite this jump, they still have a relatively small 6.8% share of the market.
Fuel cars remain the maximum non -unusual motorcycle organization in Germany, which represents 35. 2% of all sales. Last year, 991,948 were sold, which represents a gain of 1. 4%. Diesel car sales slowed 0. 7%, with 483,261 sets, sufficient for a percentage of 17. 2%.
The main explanation of why for the fall in sales of electric cars throughout the country was the debatable government resolution to reduce subsidies at the end of December 2023. Local buyers had already been presented to € 4,500 (~ $ 4700 ) The ‘purchase of an EV, while brands would get € 2250 (~ $ 2,300). The Local Transport Minister, Volker Wissing, sought to see the electric vehicle market in its two feet without government help, however, things were not transmitted in this way, at least not in 2024.
Read: EVs 22% in Germany, Tesla blocks 55%, but hybrids earn 20% in November
Not all hope is lost for Germans hoping to get some assistance in acquiring an EV, though. The nation will elect a new leader on February 23, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz has suggested a new support program on the European level could be introduced. Several politicians have joined the chorus, arguing that the auto industry needs more help, especially as the EU pushes forward with its plans to ban the sale of new combustion-engine cars in the coming years.
Winners and losers in the logo race
Amid the turmoil, Germany’s auto market saw a mix of triumphs and tragedies among automakers. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen held its dominant position, selling 536,888 cars (a 3.4% increase) and capturing a 19.1% market share. But not everyone shared in the good news. Tesla, for example, took a massive hit, with sales dropping 41% to just 37,574 units—proof that even the electric giant isn’t immune to subsidy cuts and economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Toyota saw an impressive 27% accumulating sales, reinforced through their strong hybrid alignment, and Peugeot recorded a great construction of 44%. On the other hand, luxury brands such as Audi (-18. 1%) and BMW (-0. 1%) struggled to win traction, while smaller players such as Polestar (-49. 4%) and Byd (-30. 2%) were trapped in the Sales of loose electric vehicles.
Even small market actors have largely experienced contrasting effects. Flexus experienced a remarkable growth of 75. 3%of sales, while Aston Martin (-46%) and Maserati (-48. 3%) were strongly divided. Surprisingly, some startups such as Lucid provided effects that caught attention despite incredibly modest volumes, with 392 games sold, an increase of 296%, indicating that there is still an audience niche in a position to invest in ultra -electric cars – Premium, even in a complicated market.