First Semester 2020: Volkswagen, Renault, and Tesla were the best-selling electric car brands in Germany with the VW Golf, Renault Zoe, and Tesla Model 3 the top-selling car models.
During the first half of 2020, Volkswagen was the best-selling electric car brand in Germany followed by Renault and Tesla. The VW e-Golf narrowly outsold the Renault Zoe as Germany’s favorite electric car model. Electric cars are likely to increase sales strongly in Germany in the coming months due to big government incentives.
German Electric Car Market in 2020 (Half Year)
| German Market | HY/2020 | Q1/2020 | 1-6/2019 |
| Total Electric | 44,307 | 25,975 | 31,059 |
| Total Car Market | 1,210,622 | 701,362 | 1,849,000 |
| % Share Electric | 3.7 | 3.7 | 1.68 |
New battery-electric passenger vehicle registrations in Germany during the first half of 2020 increased by 43% to 44,307 cars compared to the 31,059 BEVs sold in Germany during the first semester of 2019. During the first half of 2020, due to lockdown restrictions, the entire German new car market contracted by 34.5%.
Electric cars took a market share of 3.7% of the total new passenger vehicle registrations in Germany during the first six months of 2020 compared to 1.7% a year ago.
Government incentives to buy electric cars were increased in June 2020 and should encourage electric car sales during the second half of 2020. However, many car buyers discovered what has been known in the industry for years that electric cars are simply not available. Almost no electric cars are available for delivery within the next three months, several models won’t be available until 2021, and for others, orders are no longer being taken. Although carmakers are already paying fines for too high emissions in 2020, for many it would be beneficial to only really push electric car sales from 2021.
In addition to the government incentives, the electric car market should receive a major boost when Volkswagen begins to deliver the ID3 to customers towards the end of the third quarter. The first cars were delivered to VW employees in June for final on-the-road testing.
Best-Selling Electric Car Brands in Germany in 2020 (Half Year)
New electric passenger vehicle registrations in Germany during the first half of 2020 showed the following as the largest electric car brands according to the KBA:
| Brand | HY/2020 | 1-6/2019 | Q1/2020 | |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 11,177 | 3,297 | 6,321 |
| 2 | Renault | 7,066 | 5,551 | 4,095 |
| 3 | Tesla | 5,103 | 6,209 | 3,315 |
| 4 | Audi | 3,301 | 1,782 | 1,914 |
| 5 | Hyundai | 2,688 | 2,643 | 1,478 |
| 6 | Smart | 2,659 | 3,241 | 1,438 |
| 7 | BMW | 2,526 | 4,288 | 1,582 |
| 8 | Kia | 1,451 | 1,081 | 661 |
| 9 | Skoda | 1,357 | 1 | 865 |
| 10 | Opel | 1,317 | 70 | 984 |
| 11 | Nissan | 1,171 | 1,553 | 893 |
| 12 | Porsche | 1,080 | 195 | 526 |
| 13 | Mini | 873 | 64 | 390 |
| 14 | Mercedes-Benz | 541 | 216 | 317 |
| 15 | Seat | 462 | 1 | 248 |
| Source: KBA |
Major Electric Car Brands in Germany in 2020 (First Half)
During the first six months of 2020, compared to the first half of 2019, Volkswagen replaced Tesla as the largest electric car brand in Germany. VW more than tripled sales and improved from fourth place a year ago. A quarter of all electric cars sold in Germany thus far in 2020 were produced by VW and that percentage is likely to increase when ID3 deliveries start later this year. VW currently has an 18.4% share of the total German new car market.
Renault increased electric car sales in Germany in 2020 and remained in second place. Tesla slipped to third with sales lower than during the first half of 2019. Audi moved into fourth place while early electric car pioneers Smart and BMW are both struggling with aging models that are not due for replacement before 2021.
Skoda made a spectacular entry into the electric car market but may suffer from availability. Opel was helped by PSA ownership and having the small Corsa available as an electric car to compete with the aging models of VW, Smart and Seat.
Best-Selling Electric Car Models in Germany in 2020 (Half Year)
The top 25 best-selling electric car models in Germany during the first half of 2020 according to the KBA were:
| Model | Sales 2020 (HY) | Sales 2020 (Q1) | |
| 1 | VW Golf | 7320 | 4119 |
| 2 | Renault Zoe | 7066 | 4095 |
| 3 | Tesla Model 3 | 4367 | 2901 |
| 4 | Audi E-Tron | 3233 | 1884 |
| 5 | VW Up | 3043 | 1804 |
| 6 | BMW i3 | 2526 | 1582 |
| 7 | Hyundai Kona | 1999 | 997 |
| 8 | Smart Fortwo | 1870 | 952 |
| 9 | Skoda Citigo | 1357 | 865 |
| 10 | Porsche Taycan | 1080 | 526 |
| 11 | Nissan Leaf | 936 | 720 |
| 12 | Mini Mini | 873 | 390 |
| 13 | Kia Soul | 796 | 477 |
| 14 | Opel Corsa | 793 | 633 |
| 15 | Smart Forfour | 789 | 486 |
| 16 | Hyundai Ioniq | 682 | 476 |
| 17 | Kia Niro | 655 | 184 |
| 18 | Opel Ampera | 523 | 350 |
| 19 | Mercedes GLQ | 480 | 277 |
| 20 | Seat Mii | 462 | 248 |
| 21 | Tesla Model S | 405 | 233 |
| 22 | Tela Model X | 331 | 181 |
| 23 | Jaguar i-Pace | 313 | 187 |
| 24 | Nissan NV200 | 235 | 173 |
| 25 | Peugeot 208 | 174 | 152 |
| Source: KBA |
Top-Selling Electric Car Models in Germany in 2020 (First Half)
The Volkswagen Golf replaced the Renault Zoe as Germany’s favorite electric car model during the first half of 2020. It was long expected that the Golf would not fully claim that title as no electric Golf 8 was planned and the current e-Golf’s production run was largely extended due to the delay in the deliveries of the new ID3.
The Renault Zoe slipped into second place but only around 250 cars behind the Golf. The leader during the first half of 2020, the Tesla Model 3 slipped to third place with around a thousand fewer cars sold in Germany thus far this year than during the first half of 2020.
The Audi E-tron was the fourth most popular electric car model in Germany. The BMW i3 slipped from third to sixth with sales down. However, BMW i3s are apparently easier to obtain than for example the VW Up and its derivatives (Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii) that are in high demand but in short supply. This may help if buyers try to secure government incentives.
The Porsche Taycan moved into tenth place ahead of the Nissan Leaf and the new electric Mini.
