In September, the market for alternative drive systems (pure electric, plug-in and non-plug-in hybrids, and gas-powered vehicles) grew by 29.7 percent to 143,599 units, with international brands accounting for around 42.8 percent. This is according to an analysis of figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) by the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK). The share of new registrations with alternative drive systems in the overall market rose to 61.0 percent in September, compared to 53.0 percent in September 2024. In the first three quarters of 2025, over 1.2 million passenger cars with alternative drive systems were newly registered, around 25.6 percent more than in the same period last year.
VDIK President Imelda Labbé: “At the Auto Dialogue, all participants agreed that electric mobility will be the key drive technology of the future. This is the right signal for consumers and for the automotive industry. It was also emphasized that we must create the appropriate framework conditions for this. The charging infrastructure, electricity prices, and broad incentives for new and used cars are crucial for the ramp-up of electric mobility. Above all, it is important that all measures are implemented in an unbureaucratic manner, and the VDIK is happy to assist in developing a practical design.”
As in previous months, new registrations of purely battery-electric passenger cars (BEVs) rose significantly in September, by 31.9 percent to 45,495 units. The share of BEVs in total new passenger car registrations thus reached a new high of 19.3 percent. International manufacturers saw BEV registrations increase by 57.1 percent to 18,097 vehicles. This brings the BEV market share of international manufacturers since the beginning of the year to 39.3 percent, which is 2.7 percentage points more than in 2024. The total market share of BEV passenger cars has been 18.1 percent since January 2025, which is still not enough to meet the CO2 fleet limits.
New registrations of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also recorded an even more significant increase in September. 27,685 new PHEVs hit the roads, 85.4 percent more than in the same month last year – the highest growth rate ever recorded in the current and previous years. The share of all new passenger car registrations rose to 11.8 percent, by far the highest figure since the end of the PHEV purchase subsidy at the end of 2022. The market share of international vehicle manufacturers in plug-in hybrids rose by 2.3 percentage points to 38.0 percent in September. After three quarters, the PHEV market has a market share of 10.3 percent, which is 4.1 percentage points higher than in the same period last year.
VDIK President Imelda Labbé: “The demand for plug-in hybrids shows that these vehicles often perfectly match customers’ usage needs. In addition, the electric range of these vehicles is increasing massively, and with it their purely electric use in everyday life. That is why PHEVs should not be penalized for the planned utility factor, as they can contribute significantly to CO2 reduction.”
Together, electric vehicles (BEVs, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles) accounted for a market share of 31.1 percent in September, with 73,181 new registrations. This represents an increase of 48.0 percent compared to the same month last year. Since the beginning of the year, the electric market has grown by 46.6 percent, driven primarily by the development of PHEVs.
Hybrid vehicles without plugs saw an increase of 14.9 percent in September. 69,527 new registrations correspond to a share of 29.5 percent of new passenger car registrations. The market share of international vehicle manufacturers in the hybrid segment was 46.0 percent in September 2025.
In addition, 891 new LPG cars (+15.9 percent) rolled onto the roads in September. Since the beginning of the year, new registrations of LPG cars have totaled 9,003 units (-15.2 percent).
New registrations of combustion engine cars reached 91,918 units in September, of which 63,047 were petrol-powered (-5.9 percent) and 28,871 were diesel-powered (-7.2 percent). Gasoline engines accounted for 26.8 percent of passenger car registrations, while diesel engines accounted for 12.3 percent.
| September | January-September | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +/- (%) | Share of total car market (%) | Share of international brands (%) | +/- (%) | Share of total car market (%) | Anteil Inter- nationale Marken (%) | |||
| BEV | 45.495 | 31,9 | 19,3 | 39,8 | 382.202 | 38,3 | 18,1 | 39,3 |
| PHEV | 27.685 | 85,4 | 11,8 | 38,0 | 217.760 | 63,9 | 10,3 | 39,9 |
| FCEV | 1 | -97,4 | 0,0 | 100,0 | 47 | -63,6 | 0,0 | 100,0 |
| Elektric Vehicles (total) | 73.181 | 48,0 | 31,1 | 39,1 | 600.009 | 46,6 | 28,4 | 39,6 |
| HEV including: | 69.527 | 14,9 | 29,5 | 46,0 | 603.270 | 10,6 | 28,6 | 47,0 |
| full-hybrid | 13.406 | 26,2 | 5,7 | 97,3 | 99.318 | 8,0 | 4,7 | 94,0 |
| mild-hybrid | 56.121 | 12,5 | 23,8 | 33,8 | 503.952 | 11,2 | 23,9 | 37,7 |
| CNG | 0 | -100,0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 3 | -97,8 | 0,0 | 66,7 |
| LPG | 891 | 15,9 | 0,4 | 98,5 | 9.003 | -15,2 | 0,4 | 98,5 |
| Alternative Drivetrains (total) | 143.599 | 29,7 | 61,0 | 42,8 | 1.212.286 | 25,6 | 57,4 | 43,7 |
| Petrol | 63.047 | -5,9 | 26,8 | 43,7 | 589.951 | -23,5 | 28,0 | 41,2 |
| Diesel | 28.871 | -7,2 | 12,3 | 308.001 | -18,9 | 14,6 | ||
| Passenger cars (total) | 235.528 | 12,8 | 43,2 | 2.110.348 | -0,3 | 42,6 | ||
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.
