German passenger car market declines in 2024 - electric vehicle registrations drop

The German passenger car market faced notable challenges in 2024, with production and sales figures remaining below pre-crisis levels, according to data from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). Domestic car production in December totaled 232,900 units, marking a 10% decline compared to December 2023. Throughout the year, production remained flat at 4.1 million vehicles, still 12% below the production volume of 2019.

Despite the overall downturn, electric vehicle (EV) production reached record levels. In November, Germany produced 155,700 electric cars—the highest monthly figure to date—representing a 29% increase from November 2023. This included 120,500 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 35,200 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). By the end of November, nearly 1.3 million electric cars had been produced, surpassing the total EV production for all of 2023.

Exports also weakened in December, with 196,300 vehicles shipped abroad, a 9% decrease compared to the previous year. However, total annual exports rose 2% to nearly 3.2 million vehicles, though this figure remains 9% below the 2019 export level of 3.5 million cars.

Domestic demand showed mixed results. German manufacturers saw a 35% increase in domestic orders in December compared to the previous year, contributing to a 12% rise for the full year. However, foreign orders declined by 6% in December and remained flat for the year overall.

New car registrations in Germany dropped by 7% in December to 224,700 units compared to December 2023. For the entire year, registrations totaled 2.8 million vehicles, reflecting a modest 1% decline from 2023 but remaining 22% below the 2019 pre-crisis level.

Electric vehicle registrations also declined significantly. In December, 52,660 electric cars were newly registered, a 27% drop compared to the same month in 2023. Battery electric vehicle registrations fell sharply by 39%, while PHEV registrations increased by 7%. For the full year, 572,700 electric vehicles were registered, 18% fewer than in 2023. This overall decline was driven by a 27% decrease in BEV registrations, partially offset by a 9% growth in PHEV registrations.

Source: VDA, Photo: Fotolia