New car registrations in 2025: Electric cars are gaining significant ground.

The latest annual report from the Federal Motor Transport Authority shows that electric cars are continuing their upward trend. In 2025, their share of new registrations reached 19,1 percent for the first time. The German Association of Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) is calling for further incentives through government subsidies.

According to the current annual report of the Federal Motor Vehicle Offices were eliminated in 2025 19,1 percent of all new passenger car registrations are for fully electric vehiclesThis is an increase of 5,6 percentage points compared to the previous year.

New passenger car registrations by drive type. Photo: © ZDK German Association of the Automotive Industry/ProMotor

The Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Industry assesses the development of electromobility in 2025 as clearly positive. In December 2025, fully electric vehicles reached a market share of 22,2 percent. and thus exceeded the 20 percent mark for the third month in a row. In the full year 2025, electric vehicles accounted for 19,1 percent of all new passenger car registrations. For comparison: In 2024, the market share was 13,5 percent.The central association expects a stable share of fully electric vehicles of between 20 percent and 25 percent of the total market in 2026.

Forecast and influence of funding policy

The German Association of the Automotive Industry (ZDK) forecasts an increase in new passenger car registrations of 3,5 to 4 percent for 2026, reaching a total of 2,95 million units. Of these, approximately one million vehicles are expected to be plug-in hybrids. Thomas Peckruhn, President of the Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade, emphasizes: "The new registrations of 2025 send a clear signal towards The rise of electromobility"If this trend continues into 2026, the ramp-up of electromobility can really take hold this year, provided the right course is set."

Peckruhn further explains: "With effectively designed funding, the positive trend can accelerate significantly this year." For sustainable market dynamics, a wider range of models is needed, especially in the price-sensitive segment., shrinking price gaps between combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles as the continuous expansion of the charging infrastructure crucial.

Electric mobility: Record high despite lack of subsidies

ZDK President Thomas Peckruhn. Photo: © German Automotive Trade

In December 2025, the New registrations of fully electric vehicles, at 54.774 units, represent the highest monthly increase of the year., which represents an increase of 63,2 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. For the full year 2025, the figure was... Fully electric vehicles saw an increase of 43,2 percent..

However, a comparison with the figures from 2023 shows that the ramp-up of electromobility was slowed by the elimination of subsidies under the traffic light coalition. Peckruhn emphasizes: "This disillusionment is evident in the two-year comparison, and the The need for targeted funding initiatives"If you factor out the sharply increased self-registrations by manufacturers and dealers in the commercial registration figures, the electric car market will have only reached the level of two years prior by 2025. We are lagging behind in the private sector."

According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, since the end of the previous state funding, Effectively, two years have been lost for electromobility.Peckruhn therefore demands: "To ensure a genuine and sustainable breakthrough for electromobility in Germany, the federal government now needs to make a clear announcement that the The electric car bonus for private new registrations is now in effect."

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