Electric car sales stagnate in Germany in May

Sales of electric cars in Germany are stagnating, according to figures released by the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg on Wednesday.

Around 29,700 battery-powered cars were newly registered in May, almost 31% fewer than a year ago, when there were still subsidies from the state and manufacturers for purchases.

“Demand for electric cars remains weak – despite price reductions across the board and new models,” said the management consultancy EY. Their observations suggest private individuals and companies are generally holding back on major purchases in view of the weakening German economy.

A total of around 236,000 new cars were registered in May, about 1.17 million of those from January to May and therefore around 5% more than in the same period last year.

The proportion of vehicles with petrol or diesel engines increased slightly in May compared to the same month last year. Thirty-eight percent of new cars were petrol-driven, 19% diesel, 30% hybrids with a combined combustion engine and electric motor, and just under 13% were purely electric vehicles.

The Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers called for consumer confidence in e-mobility to be restored with the creation of more charging points and more favourable electricity prices.