New registrations of vehicles with alternative drive systems increased by around 28 percent in May, with 115,755 vehicles registered by the Federal Motor Transport Authority. In the first five months since the beginning of this year, 11 percent more new electric cars, hybrids with and without plugs, mild hybrids and gas-powered passenger cars were registered (498,046 units). This gives alternative drive systems a market share of just under 45 percent.
Among the alternative drive systems, unplugged hybrids grew particularly strongly in May: up 54 percent. At 57,842 units, unplugged hybrids represented almost a quarter of all new passenger car registrations in May. Among the hybrids, 7,025 were full hybrids, 94 percent of which came from VDIK brands.
In May, 42,780 new battery-electric passenger cars hit the roads, an increase of around 47 percent. Plug-in hybrids recorded a slump of 41 percent with 13,803 new registrations. As expected, customers are thus reacting sensitively to the discontinuation of the environmental bonus subsidy for plug-in hybrids since the beginning of the year. In the first five months of 2023, over 167,356 battery-electric passenger cars were newly registered (up 24 percent). In addition, 63,135 plug-in hybrids were newly registered (down 44 percent).
Passenger cars powered by liquid gas recorded the highest growth rates in May, with 1,166 units newly registered (up 89 percent).
The VDIK regularly updates the list of electric vehicles from international manufacturers. The VDIK member companies currently offer more than 200 electric models (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) that customers can order in Germany. The VDIK electric list can be accessed here.
In the overall passenger car market, alternative drive systems have achieved a share of 44.6 percent since the beginning of the year (same period last year: 44.3 percent). Gasoline engines gained market share (37 percent), while diesels declined further to 18 percent.
| Mai | January – Mai | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +/- (%) | +/- (%) | Share of total car market |
Market share VDIK (%) |
||||
| BEV | 42,780 | 46,6 | 167,256 | 23,9 | 15,0 | 35 | |
| PHEV | 13,803 | -40,5 | 63,135 | -44,0 | 5,7 | 34 | |
| FCEV | 34 | -5,6 | 128 | -30,8 | 0,0 | 80 | |
| Electric Vehicles (total) | 56,617 | 8,0 | 230,519 | -7,0 | 20,6 | 34 | |
| HEV including: |
57,842 | 54,5 | 261,757 | 34,9 | 23,4 | 40 | |
| full hybrid | 7,025 | 17,7 | 37,321 | 21,3 | 3,3 | 94 | |
| mild hybrid | 50,817 | 61,4 | 224,438 | 37,4 | 20,1 | 31 | |
| CNG | 130 | 4,8 | 633 | -25,8 | 0,1 | 61 | |
| LPG | 1,166 | 88,7 | 5,137 | -21,2 | 0,5 | 99 | |
| Alternative Drivetrains (total) | 115,755 | 27,7 | 498,046 | 10,8 | 44,6 | 38 | |
| Petrol | 87,700 | 17,6 | 412,769 | 14,5 | 37,0 | 39 | |
| Diesel | 43,505 | 3,6 | 205,903 | 1,2 | 18,4 | 35 | |
| for information: | |||||||
| Passenger car (total) | 246,966 | 19,2 | 1,116,737 | 10,2 | 37 | ||
Electric vehicles: BEV, PHEV und FCEV
BEV, Batterieelektrisches Fahrzeug, engl: Battery Electric Vehicle
PHEV, Plug-In-Hybrid, engl: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
FCEV, Brennstoffzellenfahrzeug / Wasserstofffahrzeug, engl.: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
Hybride, Hybrid ohne Stecker bzw. nicht aufladbar, engl.: Hybrid Electric Vehicle
CNG, Gasförmiges Erdgas, engl: Compressed Natural Gas
LPG, Flüssiggas bzw. Autogas, engl: Liquified Petroleum Gas
Models with a maximum e-motor output of 20 KW are classified as mild hybrids, while full hybrids have a maximum e-motor output of more than 20 KW.
