For the first time, electric vehicles have surpassed the sales of petrol and diesel cars in Germany. The home of the automobile has officially switched its fuel source.

For the first time, electric vehicles have surpassed the sales of petrol and diesel cars in Germany. The home of the automobile has officially switched its fuel source.

      For the first time in June, electric vehicles (EVs) surpassed all other fuel types in sales in Germany. The Federal Motor Transport Authority recorded 84,057 new EV registrations, reflecting a 78.2% increase compared to the previous year, which brings the market share of battery-electric vehicles to 28.4%. Traditional hybrids ranked second with 83,315 registrations (28.1%), followed by petrol vehicles at 60,796 (20.5%), diesel cars at 33,862 (11.4%), and plug-in hybrids at 32,212 (10.9%).

      The Tesla Model Y led the electric segment with 6,023 registrations, placing it third overall among all fuel types. The Volkswagen ID.3 was the second best-selling EV with 3,514 units, while the Skoda Enyaq ranked third with 3,383 registrations. In total, new car registrations in Germany reached 296,378 in June, marking a year-on-year increase of 15.7%. Volkswagen maintained its lead with 51,058 registrations, followed by BMW and Skoda. While Chinese automakers are quickly entering Western markets, the best-selling EVs in Germany remain from European and American manufacturers.

      This milestone is significant as Germany is the largest automotive market in Europe and the origin of the internal combustion engine. Known for its Autobahn, diesel long-distance travel, and major automotive brands like Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the fact that EVs have secured the top sales position—even if only slightly ahead of hybrids—indicates that the transition has reached a pivotal point in European car culture.

      However, this progress is tempered by the broader context. Of the 61 million vehicles registered in Germany, only 4.1% are EVs, with a substantial majority, 59.3%, still powered by petrol. Rising costs for memory and components are putting pressure on consumer electronics, which similarly affects EV affordability. June's results indicate that while Germans are opting for electric vehicles when purchasing new cars, it will take years for the entire fleet to transition. A new chapter has begun in automotive history, but it will take time to unfold.

      Published July 20, 2026 - 1:58 pm UTC

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For the first time, electric vehicles have surpassed the sales of petrol and diesel cars in Germany. The home of the automobile has officially switched its fuel source.

In June, Germany recorded 84,057 electric vehicles (EVs), surpassing hybrids (83,315), petrol cars (60,796), and diesel vehicles (33,862). EVs now represent 28.4% of the market, with the Tesla Model Y taking the lead.