Germany New Car Sales Edge Up 0.1% in May

Germany’s new car registrations increased 0.1% year-on-year to 239,448 units in May 2026. Commercial registrations, which accounted for 64.4% of the total, declined 4%, while private registrations rose 8.4%. Demand for electric vehicles remained strong, with 59,969 battery electric vehicles registered, up 39.3% year-on-year and representing 25% of all new registrations. Hybrid vehicles also gained ground, with 95,466 units registered, accounting for 39.9% of the market and marking a 3.6% increase. This included 27,921 plug-in hybrids, up 10.9%. By contrast, registrations of gasoline-powered cars fell 23.7% to 51,806 units, while diesel registrations dropped 13% to 30,547, leaving them with a 12.8% market share. LPG-powered vehicles rose 61.7% to 1,641 units, while no natural gas-powered passenger cars were registered during the month.

Germany’s new car registrations rose 2.7% year-on-year to 249,163 units in April 2026, supported by continued growth in electric and hybrid vehicles. Commercial registrations accounted for 64.6% of the total, while private registrations increased 8.2%. Battery electric vehicles reached 64,350 units, up 41.3% from a year earlier, giving them a market share of 25.8%. Hybrid models remained the largest segment with 97,753 registrations and a 39.2% market share, including 27,546 plug-in hybrids, which climbed 13.3%. In contrast, demand for traditional combustion engine vehicles continued to weaken. Gasoline-powered car registrations fell 20% year-on-year to 53,420 units, while diesel registrations dropped to 32,437 vehicles, representing a 13% market share. LPG-powered vehicles saw modest growth, while only two hydrogen fuel cell cars were registered during the month.