Summary
- Plugin EVs took 23.4% share in Germany in December, down from 30.0% share YoY
- BEV volume decreased YoY in anticipation of tighter 2025 emissions regulations
- The bestselling BEV in December was the Tesla Model Y
- Full year 2024 analysis showed a sharp decline in BEV volumes in Germany
- Legacy auto makers in Europe are not prioritizing the sale of BEVs, contributing to the decline in EV transition in the region
Article
In December, plugin EVs in Germany took a 23.4% share of the market, with full electric vehicles (BEVs) at 14.9% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 8.5%. This was a decrease from the previous year, with BEV volume sharply down due to a hold-back ahead of tighter 2025 emissions regulations. Overall auto volume in December was 224,721 units, a 7% decrease from the previous year, and the top-selling BEV was the Tesla Model Y.
The full year analysis for 2024 showed a significant decrease in BEV volumes to 380,609 units, while PHEV volumes slightly increased to 191,905 units. The overall market fell by just under 1% to 2,817,294 units. The decline in the EV transition in Germany was attributed to legacy auto-makers not wanting to sell BEVs at a faster rate than required by regulations. Tighter emissions regulations in 2025 are expected to push auto manufacturers to make more effort with their BEV offerings and bring down prices.
The top-selling BEVs in December included the Tesla Model Y, displacing the Skoda Enyaq which had consistently held the number one spot. Other popular models included the Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW iX1. Despite raised tariffs, the Dacia Spring saw a return in volume, and the new Renault 5 saw steady customer deliveries. The Hyundai Inster, a new hatchback model, also debuted in December with 27 units sold.
Looking at the full year model rankings, the Tesla Model Y retained its crown as the top-selling BEV for the third consecutive year, despite a decrease in volume compared to the previous year. The Volkswagen ID.7 performed well in its first full year, landing in 6th place. Other new models like the BMW i5 and Volvo EX30 also had decent debuts in the rankings. Legacy auto brands like Stellantis saw significant drops in volume, indicating the challenges they face in transitioning to EVs.
In terms of manufacturing groups, Volkswagen Group maintained its number one spot in full year 2024, followed by BMW Group and Mercedes Group. Stellantis and Renault-Nissan Group saw dramatic drops in volume, while newcomer Geely saw an increase in sales. The economic factors in Germany, including a recession and weak manufacturing PMI, posed challenges to the BEV transition in 2024.
Looking ahead, tighter emissions regulations in 2025 are expected to push auto manufacturers to prioritize BEVs and bring down prices. Countries where manufacturers can charge higher prices and where incentives or tax cuts are in place are likely to see faster adoption of EVs. The overall outlook for the EV transition in Germany and Europe will depend on how auto-makers respond to regulations and market demand.
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