2022 (Full Year) Germany: Best-Selling Car Models

In full-year 2022, the VW Golf was again the top-selling car in Germany followed by two further VW models — Tiguan and T-Roc.

2022 (January to December): the best-selling car model in Germany was again the Volkswagen Golf. The VW Tiguan and VW T-Roc were the favorite cross-country vehicle and SUV. The Fiat 500 was the top-selling foreign car model in Germany in 2022 while the electric-only Tesla Model Y rounded out the top-ten list of the top-selling car models in German in 2022.

In 2022 (full year), the German new car market grew by 1.1% to 2,651,357 new passenger vehicle registrations, Volkswagen remained the best-selling brand, the VW Golf the top-selling car model, and the Tesla Model Y the favorite battery-electric car.

German Car Sales Statistics — 2022: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2021: Market, Brands, Models, Electric; 2020: Market, Brands, Models, Electric; 2019: Market, Brands, Models, Electric

Top 50 Best-Selling Car Models in Germany in 2022 (Full Year)

The top 50 best-selling car models in the full calendar year 2022 in Germany according to the KBA, as well as the number of electric models sold of relevant models, were as follows:

	BRAND	MODEL	SALES 2022	ELECTRIC
	TOTAL GERMAN MARKET		2,651,357	470,559
1	VW	GOLF	84,282	–
2	VW	TIGUAN	59,136	–
3	VW	T-ROC	58,942	–
4	FIAT	500	52,337	29,635
5	OPEL	CORSA	50,191	14,979
6	MINI	MINI	40,142	11,744
7	VW	PASSAT	39,261	–
8	FORD	KUGA	38,482	–
9	BMW	3ER	36,231	–
10	TESLA	MODEL Y	35,426	35,426
11	AUDI	A3, S3, RS3	35,052	–
12	TESLA	MODEL 3	33,841	33,841
13	MERCEDES-BENZ	C-KLASSE	33,454	–
14	SKODA	OCTAVIA	33,294	–
15	SEAT	FORMENTOR	32,638	–
16	VW	TRANSPORTER	32,529	100
17	TOYOTA	YARIS	31,048	–
18	OPEL	MOKKA	30,286	12,916
19	VW	T-CROSS	29,517	–
20	AUDI	Q3	28,912	–
21	VW	POLO	26,402	–
22	MERCEDES-BENZ	GLK, GLC	26,260	4,328
23	HYUNDAI	KONA	25,979	17,029
24	BMW	X3	25,922	4,141
25	KIA	CEED	25,795	–
26	SEAT	LEON	25,697	–
27	AUDI	A6, S6, RS6	25,403	–
28	VW	ID.4, ID.5	24,847	24,847
29	AUDI	A4, S4, RS4	24,790	–
30	MERCEDES-BENZ	E-KLASSE	24,599	3,277
31	AUDI	Q5	23,706	–
32	VW	UP	23,469	13,238
33	VW	ID.3	23,286	23,286
34	BMW	5ER	23,209	–
35	SKODA	FABIA	22,721	–
36	SKODA	KAROQ	22,590	–
37	MERCEDES-BENZ	A-KLASSE	22,399	–
38	MERCEDES-BENZ	V-KLASSE	22,328	1,391
39	FIAT	DUCATO	21,240	–
40	FORD	FOCUS	20,061	–
41	BMW	X1	20,029	884
42	MERCEDES-BENZ	GLA	19,847	6,883
43	MITSUBISHI	ECLIPSE CROSS	18,852	–
44	VW	TAIGO	18,754	–
45	VW	CADDY	18,558	–
46	DACIA	SANDERO	18,538	–
47	KIA	SPORTAGE	18,280	–
48	HYUNDAI	TUCSON	17,891	–
49	SKODA	KODIAQ	17,605	–
50	FORD	PUMA	17,573	–

Ten Best-Selling Car Models in Germany in 2022

The top-ten best-selling car models in Germany in recent years according to KBA new passenger vehicle registration data were:

	Brand	Modellreihe	Sales 2022	Sales 2021	Sales 2020	Sales 2019	Sales in 2018	Sales in 2017
		Total	2,651,357	2,622,132	2,917,678	3,607,258	3,435,778	3,441,262
1	VW	GOLF	84,282	91,621	136,324	204,550	211,512	228,227
2	VW	TIGUAN	59,136	55,527	60,380	87,771	74,749	71,437
3	VW	T-ROC	58,942	57,424	50,822	58,898	35,299	–
4	FIAT	500	52,337	35,787	32,039	37,503	31,590	29,836
5	OPEL	CORSA	50,191	49,475	53,199	51,708	47,848	51,349
6	MINI	MINI	40,142	42,938	44,152	50,019	50,494	46,705
7	VW	PASSAT	39,261	45,696	60,904	59,322	70,007	72,430
8	FORD	KUGA	38,482	29,102	–	–	–	–
9	BMW	3ER	36,231	41,704	47,273	43,327	34,514	38,343
10	TESLA	MODEL Y	35,426	NEW	–	–	–	–

The Volkswagen Golf was again the favorite car model of the Germans in 2022 but there were some hiccups, largely due to supply-chain issues, meaning the Golf was outsold in some months by amongst others the T-Roc and the Tesla Model 3. However, over the full calendar year 2022, the VW Golf remained firmly at the top of the best-sellers list by selling around 40% more cars than the Tiguan or T-Roc and more cars than the Tesla Model Y and 3 combined.

The VW Golf has been the best-selling car model in Germany for every calendar year since 1981. It was last outsold in 1980 — by the Mercedes-Benz W123 (E-Class). However, its importance for Volkswagen is declining — as recently as 2015, VW sold over 270,000 Golfs in Germany. Current Volkswagen management has hinted that in a reversal of previous plans, an electric Golf is likely in the near future and that the name is unlikely to be retired in an electric-only car future.

The Golf was the only top-ten best-selling car model in Germany in the same position in 2022 as in 2021. The VW Tiguan and VW T-Roc swapped positions with small increases in volumes — both models are generally considered to be very profitable for Volkswagen. The Tiguan was Germany’s favorite cross-country vehicle (Geländewagen) and the T-Roc Germany’s best-selling SUV according to the official definitions.

The Fiat 500 moved up from 11th to fourth to become Germany’s favorite imported car model. The Fiat 500 was boosted by the electric model, which comprised nearly 60% of all sales. The Fiat 500 was the third-most-popular electric car model in Germany in 2022.

The Opel Corsa slipped one rank position. Nearly 30% of all Corsas sold were battery-electric vehicles.

The Mini, often the most popular car model in Germany with private buyers, improved one rank position. Around a quarter of all new Minis sold in Germany in 2022 were electric cars.

The VW Passat slipped one position — it was second as recently as 2020. A new model, available as an estate (Kombi) only is due towards the end of 2023. The Passat remains hugely popular with commercial travelers (and second-hand, due to high prices new, with families).

The Ford Kuga improved from 19th to 8th. Ford had a good year in Germany in 2022 with the Kuga one of four SUVs (in the more conventional definition) on the top-ten list.

The BMW 3-Series slipped one rank position but comfortably outsold the direct competition including the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Tesla Model 3.

The Tesla Model Y is a new entrant on the top ten list. It was not only the top-selling electric car in Germany in 2022 but vastly outsold the competition from Volkswagen (ID4 and ID5) and the more established Model 3.

German Car Sales Statistics — 2022: Market Overview, Brands, Models, Electric; 2021: Market, Brands, Models, Electric; 2020: Market, Brands, Models, Electric; 2019: Market, Brands, Models, Electric