Sales of electric cars in Germany are stagnating. As in April, around 29,700 new cars with purely battery-powered drives hit the streets in May, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg. That was almost 31 percent less than a year ago, when there were still subsidies for purchases from the state and manufacturers. “Demand for electric cars remains weak – despite price reductions across the board and new models,” said management consultancy EY.
They have observed that private individuals and companies are generally holding back on major purchases in view of the weakening economy. In total, around 236,000 new cars were registered in May, and between January and May there were a good 1.17 million, or around five percent more than in the same period last year.
The proportion of vehicles with petrol or diesel engines increased slightly in May compared to the same month last year. 38 percent of new cars were petrol, 19 percent diesel, 30 percent hybrids with a combined combustion engine and electric motor, and almost 13 percent were purely battery-electric vehicles. Consumer confidence in e-mobility must be restored, demanded the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers – with more charging stations and cheaper electricity prices.