The automotive market in Germany experienced an unprecedented decline in August 2024. With a total of 197,322 newly registered cars, the market recorded a drop of 27.8% compared to the same month last year. Electric cars were particularly affected, suffering a real crash. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), new registrations of purely battery electric vehicles (BEV) fell by a dramatic 68.8% compared to the previous year. This is a clear warning signal for the entire automotive industry and, above all, for the future of electromobility.
The reasons for the slump
The slump in new registrations of electric cars can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the abolition of the purchase premium for commercial customers from September 2023 is a key cause. This led to an artificial increase in registrations in the previous year, causing the current figures to fall sharply in direct comparison. Added to this is the weak economic situation, which is strongly influencing the purchasing behavior of many consumers.
Thomas Peckruhn, Vice President of the German Association of the Motor Trade (ZDK), emphasizes the urgency of additional incentives from the German government: "The planned tax breaks for e-vehicles are just a drop in the ocean and will mainly help commercial registrations." It remains to be seen what effect these measures will have in the coming months.
Slump across all drive types
Not only electric cars are affected by this decline. Petrol (-7.4%), diesel (-24.4%) and hybrids (-1.5%) also recorded declines in August 2024. Plug-in hybrids in particular, which were seen as a bridge technology between conventional combustion engines and electric cars, suffered a drop of 6.8%. The decline in the desire to buy is therefore affecting the entire market, which is due to the uncertain economic situation and the increased cost of new cars.
Tesla: Bright spot despite market weakness
Tesla defies the negative trend to a certain extent. The Model Y remains the best-selling electric vehicle in Germany with 1,957 new registrations in August. Compared to the declines of other manufacturers Tesla maintain a relatively stable market position, underlining customer confidence in the brand.
Criticism of the subsidy policy
The crash in electric car registrations shows the dependence on state subsidies. The lack of planning security for commercial and private customers is particularly problematic. The subsidies to date have clearly not been sufficient to sustainably support the market. Experts are now calling for more commitment from the German government to make electromobility more attractive in the long term.
Outlook: Challenges for e-mobility
With stricter CO2 targets coming into force from 2025, the pressure on car manufacturers will continue to increase. Without additional incentives and investment in charging infrastructure, it could be difficult to achieve the climate targets. The current figures underline the urgency of driving forward the transition to electromobility even more resolutely.
August 2024 marks a decisive turning point for the automotive industry. The decline in new registrations of electric cars shows that the ramp-up of e-mobility has stalled. It remains to be seen whether additional incentives and stronger political support can bring about a turnaround.
Keywords: Electric car registrations August 2024, Tesla Model Y, Decline in BEV, new registrations of electric cars in Germany, CO2 targets for e-mobility, electric car subsidy policy, car market 2024, Tesla sales figures, hybrid cars August 2024, electric car promotion
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If you’re already more proud Tesla-Driver are or should be in a timely manner, visit our online shop Shop4Tesla and secure 10% Discount on all products with the discount code: NEWS4TESLA.In our extensive range you will find a variety of high-quality Tesla-Accessories for every model Discover exciting innovations and accessories that will Tesla-Make the experience even better - www.shop4tesla.com.
