Vehicle Stock in Germany: More Cars, More Electric, Fewer Diesel

The number of vehicles on German roads continues to grow. As of January 1, the total registered vehicles reached 61.1 million, reflecting a 0.7% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt). Additionally, the number of registered trailers rose by 1.4% to 8.56 million.

Despite the increase in vehicle numbers, traditional combustion engine vehicles are on the decline. The total number of cars remained the largest segment at 49.3 million, with 88.3% of these vehicles registered for private use. However, the number of commercially used passenger cars saw a slight decrease, falling to 5.7 million, a decline of 0.1%.

In terms of traditional fuel types, diesel vehicles saw a reduction in their share, dropping by 2.2% to account for 28% of the total vehicle stock. Similarly, gasoline-powered vehicles also experienced a decline, with a 1% decrease, resulting in them making up 60.6% of the total vehicle inventory.

Conversely, alternative powertrains have shown significant growth. The number of hybrid vehicles surged by 22.2%, reaching approximately 3.56 million. Pure electric cars also saw an impressive increase, rising by 17.2% to 1.65 million units. Plug-in hybrids increased as well, albeit at a more modest rate of 4.9%, totaling over 967,000 vehicles.

Volkswagen remains the dominant car brand in Germany, holding a market share of 20.9%. Following Volkswagen are Mercedes with 9.6%, Opel at 7.9%, and BMW at 7.0%. The most imported vehicles were from Skoda, capturing 5.6% of the market, with Renault and Seat each holding a share of 3.3%.

This shift in the vehicle landscape reflects broader trends towards sustainability and alternative energy sources in the automotive sector, as both consumers and manufacturers adapt to changing regulations and market demands.