The new year begins for the German car market with a slight decline: In January 2025, a total of 207,640 new passenger cars registered - this corresponds to a minus of 2.8 percent compared to the previous year. Despite falling overall figures, there is a clear shift in market shares, particularly in the area of alternative drive systems.

Commercial registrations fell by 12.1 percentwhile new private registrations increased by +9.7 percent remained stable. This could be an indication that companies are currently more hesitant to make new investments, while private buyers are increasingly opting for alternative drive systems.

SUVs remain on trend, compact class slumps

SUVs remain popular with a share of 30.6 percent the most popular vehicle segment and were able to 5.9 percent growth. The compact class on the other hand had to deal with -16.6 percent a significant decline, but at 17.4 percent market share still in second place. This is followed by SUVs (13.4 %) and small cars (10.9 %).

The upper middle class recorded with +98.8 percent the strongest growth - a sign that premium vehicles are currently in high demand. Also Utilities (+36.6%) and minivans (+6.7 %) increased, while minis (-40,3 %) and sports cars (-35,4 %) were among the biggest losers.

Electric cars are booming - plug-in hybrids and pure BEVs on the rise

While overall registrations are on the decline, the electric car segment electric vehicles (BEVs) a completely different picture:

  • 34,498 new e-cars were registered in January, an increase of 53.5 percent compared to January 2024.
  • The share of total registrations rose to 16.6 percent (previous year: 10.5 %).
  • Hybrid vehicles achieved 37.1 percent market share (+15.7%), including 17,712 plug-in hybrids (+23,1 %).

The enormous growth in battery-powered vehicles is also due to political factors: many manufacturers have postponed registrations from 2024 to January 2025 in order to stricter CO₂ fleet limits of the EU and avoid fines.

Despite the boom in electric cars, however, it is clear that not all manufacturers are benefiting equally - and especially Tesla must accept massive losses.

Tesla with a drastic slump in sales - BMW takes over market leadership

Tesla records a dramatic decline in new registrations in Germany in January 2025:

  • Only 1,277 Tesla-vehicles were newly registered - this corresponds to a slump of almost 60 percent compared to January 2024.
  • The Model Y, once Germany's best-selling electric car, is now only on 979 units.
  • Model 3: 272 registrationsModel S and Model X: only 13 registrations each.

Why is Tesla so sharply?

  1. Outdated Model YMany competitors have now brought more modern models with better ranges and new technologies onto the market.
  2. Negative public perceptionElon Musk repeatedly causes controversy with his political statements, which puts off potential customers in Europe.
  3. Changes in funding & strategic shifts: Without the environmental bonus, Tesla's price-performance ratio is no longer as attractive as it used to be.

BMW dominates the electric market

While Tesla is weakening, BMW seizes the opportunity and secures itself with 2,795 new electric registrations the top position in the premium segment.

  • BMW sold more than twice as many electric cars as Tesla.
  • Particularly strong demand: BMW i4 (774 units), BMW i5 (730) and BMW iX1 (644).
  • Audi (1,922) and Mercedes (2,211) were also able to Tesla overtake them significantly.

The strong electric sales of BMW is due to the wide range of models. While Tesla continues to focus heavily on a single volume model (Model Y), BMW offers an attractive BEV model in almost every segment.

Conclusion: Market in upheaval - Tesla under pressure

The new registrations in January 2025 show a clear trend:

✅ Electric cars are booming - with a record value of 34,498 new BEVs.
✅ BMW takes the leadwhile Tesla one massive decline of almost 60 % recorded.
✅ SUVs remain popularwhile the compact class is losing market share.
✅ Petrol (-23.7%) and diesel (-19.5%) cars continue to lose groundwhile hybrids (+15.7%) and plug-in hybrids (+23.1%) continue to grow.

For Tesla this start to the year means a clear warning shot. The competition is getting stronger and stronger, and without rapid model updates or price adjustments Tesla continue to lose ground in Europe.

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