In January 2026, a total of 193,981 new passenger cars were registered in Germany, 122,970 of which were alternative-fuel vehicles (pure electric, plug-in and non-plug-in hybrids, and gas-powered), with international brands accounting for around 42.2 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 63.4 percent in January, compared to 54.1 percent in the same month last year.
A recent flash survey of VDIK member companies shows that the announcement of the German government’s e-subsidy program has not yet had any impact on orders for electric cars. VDIK President Imelda Labbé: “Although the brands surveyed view the subsidy amount and the inclusion of plug-in hybrids as positive, complicated subsidy conditions and verification procedures, as well as a complete lack of clarity regarding the processing procedure, are hampering the program’s effectiveness. Uncertainty about electricity price trends, charging infrastructure, and residual value trends continue to pose additional challenges for the ramp-up of electric mobility. ”
According to a survey conducted by the German Press Agency (dpa), 42 percent of customers feel poorly informed about the electric car subsidy, and one in three people in Germany has not even heard of it. “Customers therefore need clarity about the conditions and application options as soon as possible so that the subsidy can have an impact in the medium and long term,” Labbé continued.
New registrations of purely battery-electric passenger cars (BEVs) rose by 23.8 percent to 42,692 vehicles in January. The share of BEVs in total new passenger car registrations reached 22.0 percent, which was slightly below the previous month’s figures. Compared to January 2025, however, this still represents an increase of around 5.4 percentage points. International manufacturers saw a 32.6 percent increase in new BEV registrations last month to 19,174 vehicles, accounting for around 44.9 percent of the BEV market. That is 3 percentage points more than last year.
New registrations of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) also recorded an increase in January. 21,790 new PHEVs hit the roads, 23.0 percent more than in the same month last year. At 11.2 percent, the share of all new passenger car registrations was around 2.7 percentage points higher than the market share in January 2025, but at the same time around 1.1 percentage points lower than in December. This should be viewed in particular against the backdrop of the second stage of the Euro 6e emissions standard for newly registered passenger cars, which has been in force since January 1, 2026, and the resulting stricter utility factor for PHEVs. The market share of international vehicle manufacturers in the plug-in hybrid segment was 34.7 percent in January.
Together, electric vehicles (BEVs, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles) will thus account for a market share of 33.2 percent in January 2026, with 64,484 new registrations. This represents an increase of 23.5 percent compared to January of the previous year.
In contrast, plug-in hybrid vehicles saw a decline of 1.8 percent in January. 58,206 new registrations correspond to a share of 30.0 percent of passenger car registrations (January 2025: 28.5 percent). The market share of international vehicle manufacturers in the hybrid segment was 42.7 percent in January.
In addition, 280 new liquefied petroleum gas cars (-67.4 percent) rolled onto the roads in January.
New registrations of combustion engine cars reached 71,004 units in January, of which 43,695 were gasoline-powered (-29.9 percent) and 27,309 were diesel-powered (-17.1 percent). Gasoline engines accounted for 22.5 percent of passenger car registrations, while diesel engines accounted for 14.1 percent.
| January | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +/- (%) | Share of total car market (%) |
Share of international brands (%) |
||
| BEV | 42.692 | 23,8 | 22,0 | 44,9 |
| PHEV | 21.790 | 23,0 | 11,2 | 34,7 |
| FCEV | 2 | 0,0 | 0,0 | 100,0 |
| Electric Vehicles (total) | 64.484 | 23,5 | 33,2 | 41,5 |
| HEV including: | 58.206 | -1,8 | 30,0 | 42,7 |
| full-hybrid | 9.054 | 17,9 | 4,7 | 89,4 |
| mild-hybrid | 49.152 | -4,7 | 25,3 | 34,1 |
| CNG | 0 | 0,0 | 0,0 | – |
| LPG | 280 | -67,4 | 0,1 | 97,5 |
| Alternative Drives (total) | 122.970 | 9,5 | 63,4 | 42,2 |
| Petrol | 43.695 | -29,9 | 22,5 | 42,5 |
| Diesel | 27.309 | -17,1 | 14,1 | |
| Passenger car (total) | 193.981 | -6,6 | 42,3 | |
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.
