Germans rethink electric cars as subsidies vanish and sales plummet

Have the Germans turned away from electric cars? After the withdrawal of state subsidies, demand has clearly decreased.

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has published data on new car sales in July 2024. The figures for electric vehicles do not inspire optimism.

Last month, our western neighbours registered 30,762 electric vehicles—37 percent less than in the same period last year. This is the largest drop since December 2023, when the German authorities announced the end of subsidies for the purchase of electric cars.

The share of electric vehicles in the German market fell to just 13 percent, down from the 20 percent norm last year. Lower sales mean German manufacturers are losing ground and updating their previously electric mobility-dominated strategies.

Representatives of brands such as Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagen are increasingly discussing extending the life of combustion models and adapting their offerings to meet customer requirements. And they—as it turns out—are not necessarily convinced about electric mobility.