Passenger car market declines in February

According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, 239,943 new passenger cars were registered in Germany in February. That is 11 percent less than in the same month last year. In the first two months of this year the volume of new registrations thus fell by 9 percent. The international manufacturers increased their market share in February from 38 to a good 40 percent. Alternative drives continued to grow.

Reinhard Zirpel, President of the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK), said: “The passenger car market 2020 is characterized by two developments: The total volume of new registrations will undergo the expected correction after the record year 2019. At the same time, alternative engines will grow strongly. Electric vehicles in particular will make the breakthrough this year and achieve significant market shares”.

In February, almost 32 percent of all new cars with diesel engines were delivered. 52 percent were gasoline engines. This means that both the proportion of diesels (same month last year: 33 percent) and gasoline engines (60 percent) declined. 16 percent of newly registered vehicles had alternative drive systems.

New registrations of e-vehicles also increased in February: The Federal Motor Transport Authority counted 8,354 battery electric cars and 8,154 plug-in hybrids. This means that the share of electric vehicles in February was 6.9 percent.

Private new registrations fell to around 79,500 units in February. Their share of the total market was 33 percent. In this environment, the import brands increased their share of the private market from 48 to almost 52 percent.

For the full year 2020, the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK) expects a new registration volume of million passenger cars, or minus 7 percent compared to last year.