New EV registrations in Germany declined 27.4 percent year-on-year in 2024. Experts call for reliable framework conditions, affordable EVs, and targeted policies to promote electric vehicle adoption.
FRANKFURT, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Germany experienced a sharp decline in new registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2024, with figures dropping by over a quarter. The setback has led some industry insiders to label the year an "e-car disaster."
Experts emphasize that reversing this trend by 2025 will require reliable framework conditions, affordable e-vehicles, and targeted policies to promote electric vehicle adoption.
A total of 380,609 new e-vehicles were registered in Germany last year, marking a 27.4 percent decline from 2023, according to figures released by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) on Monday.
BEVs accounted for 13.5 percent of all new vehicle registrations, down nearly five percentage points year-on-year. While overall new passenger car registrations in 2024 fell by only 1 percent to 2.8 million, the slump in electric car adoption is raising concerns.
The abrupt end of government subsidies for electric cars at the start of 2024 dealt a significant blow to the sector, compounded by high vehicle prices that deterred many potential buyers.
The German Automobile Club (ADAC) criticized the limited availability of electric car models priced under 30,000 euros. Despite the government's push towards electrification, many German drivers remain loyal to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which they perceive as more reliable and familiar.
According to KBA, petrol-powered cars saw a slight increase in their market share, reaching over 35 percent, while diesel vehicles, despite a slight decline, still account for a significant portion of new registrations. Altogether, ICE vehicles made up 52.4 percent of all new registrations in 2024. Consequently, the average CO2 emissions of newly registered passenger cars rose by 4.2 percent.
The German government's ambitious goal of having about 15 million electric cars on roads by 2030 appears increasingly out of reach. The KBA reports revealed that at the start of 2024, only around 1.4 million electric cars were in use. A recent forecast by consulting firm Deloitte predicted that this figure will rise to just 11.2 million by 2029.
Harald Proff, partner and head of the automotive sector at Deloitte Germany, said that the shift towards electric mobility is inevitable, driven by global regulations, new players and the urgency of combatting climate change.
Proff stressed the importance of establishing reliable framework conditions, including the production of affordable e-vehicles and the expansion of comprehensive, reliable charging infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the German Association of Car Importers (VDIK) shared an optimistic outlook for BEV growth by 2025. It expects around 2.85 million new car registrations in 2025, with a strong growth in BEVs, contingent on improved frameworks and incentives.
VDIK President Imelda Labbe emphasized that open and fair competition is crucial for economic growth, and that tax incentives should be accessible to all vehicle brands to foster innovation and ensure a successful transition to affordable and climate-neutral mobility. ■
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