Volkswagen Group Dominates German EV Market in H1 2025 as BEV Sales Surge Amid Overall Market Contraction
Key Insights
Germany's overall new car registrations declined by 4.7% in the first half of 2025, yet battery-electric vehicle sales surged by 35.1% to 248,726 units.
Volkswagen Group brands, including VW, BMW, Skoda, Audi, and Seat, dominated the German EV market, securing the top five spots in brand sales.
The VW ID.7 emerged as Germany's best-selling BEV model, leading a clean sweep for Volkswagen Group models in the top six positions.
Tesla's Model Y, the 2024 leader, significantly dropped to ninth place among models, indicating shifting market dynamics and increased competition.
Germany's new passenger vehicle registrations experienced a 4.7% contraction in the first half of 2025, totaling 1,402,789 units, a decline from 1,471,641 cars sold in the corresponding period of 2024. Despite this overall market downturn, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) segment demonstrated robust growth, with total sales increasing by 35.1% to 248,726 all-electric cars. This surge is particularly noteworthy given the subdued start to 2024, which followed an unexpected cessation of government subsidies in December 2023. BEVs commanded an 18.4% market share in Germany during the first six months of 2025, an increase from 17.7% in the first half of 2024.
Volkswagen Group brands significantly dominated the German electric car market in H1 2025. Volkswagen itself emerged as the leading BEV brand, capturing a substantial 21.1% market share, surpassing its 20.4% share in the total German new car market. BMW secured the second position with a 9.1% share, also outperforming its overall market presence. Following BMW were three additional Volkswagen Group marques: Skoda (9.0%), Audi (7.9%), and Seat (6.6%), collectively reinforcing the group's strong foothold in the electric vehicle sector. Notably, Tesla, which held the third position in full-year 2024, experienced a significant drop to eighth place among BEV brands, indicating a shift in competitive dynamics.
In terms of individual models, Volkswagen achieved a clean sweep of the top three best-selling all-electric cars in Germany for the first half of 2025. The VW ID.7 led the market, followed by the ID.4 and ID.3, underscoring the brand's successful portfolio diversification. The next three positions were also secured by Volkswagen-owned brands: the Skoda Enyaq, Seat Born, and Skoda Elroq. Further solidifying the group's presence, the Audi Q6 and Audi Q4 also ranked within the top ten. The only two models in the top ten without direct Volkswagen Group affiliation were the BMW X1 and the Tesla Model Y. The Model Y, which was Germany's top-selling electric car in 2024, saw its ranking decline to ninth place, while the Tesla Model 3 fell to 33rd. This performance highlights the increasing competition and the successful market penetration of established German automakers in the electric vehicle space, challenging the early lead of pure-play EV manufacturers.