Electric car sales are picking up again

The Association of Automotive Importers (VDIK) sees the coronavirus crisis in the electric car market as overcome for the time being. The rising sales figures in June point to this, the association believes. In Germany, 18,896 electric vehicles were newly registered in June, including battery-electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles. The increase amounts to 118 percent. New registrations of pure electric cars (BEVs) rose by 41 percent in June to 8,119 units.

BEVs are almost on par with PHEVs

Furthermore, almost four times as many plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were newly registered as in the same month last year. The Federal Motor Transport Authority registered 10,749 new PHEVs (plus 274 percent), according to the association. Since the beginning of the year, 93,980 electric vehicles have been newly registered (up 97 percent), with 44,307 pure BEVs sold, not much less than PHEV models (49,541). In the first half of the year, they achieved a market share of 7.8 percent , compared to around 3 percent in 2019.

Reinhard Zirpel, President of the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK), emphasized: “The electric car market is temporarily leaving the coronavirus crisis behind. June 2020 was, after the record in March, the second strongest month for E-vehicle registrations in Germany to date. This was certainly due to the announcement that the increased purchase premium would apply retroactively to all vehicles newly registered after June 3. We expect that the new innovation premium will give a significant boost to the demand for electric cars in the second half of the year.”

Other hybrids and CNG also gaining ground

Total demand for other vehicles with alternative drivetrains also increased significantly in June. A total of 39,491 new electric cars, hybrids with and without plugs, mild hybrids (48 volts), and gas-powered cars were registered. The increase compared to the same month last year is 52 percent. Since the beginning of the year, 208,109 new units have been registered. This means that cars with alternative drivetrains achieved a market share of 17.2 percent in the first six months of this year, compared to just under 9 percent in 2019. In addition, 3,552 new CNG cars have been added since the beginning of the year. Three-quarters of the vehicles come from international manufacturers (75 percent).