Germany’s automotive market demonstrated surprising resilience in November 2025, with new car registrations climbing 2.5 percent year-on-year to 250,671 units, according to data released by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA). While this appears positive on the surface, a deeper examination reveals a complex picture of shifting consumer preferences and potentially worrying trends for established brands.
The increase was largely driven by a 10.1 percent surge in private registrations, hinting at a rebound in consumer confidence despite ongoing economic uncertainties. However, commercial vehicle registrations experienced a slight dip of 1.0 percent, accounting for 65.7 percent of the market. This contraction in the commercial sector raises questions about the health of German businesses and their investment decisions.
Within the domestic market, Ford emerged as the star performer, boasting a robust 13.7 percent increase and a 3.6 percent market share. Audi and BMW also showed positive growth, with increases of 9.5 percent and 8.5 percent respectively. Despite a minimal 0.5 percent rise, Volkswagen remains the dominant player, maintaining a 19.1 percent market share. However, the pronounced declines witnessed by established brands like Smart, Porsche, MAN, Mercedes and Opel – highlighting potential vulnerabilities in their product lines or marketing strategies – cannot be ignored. These losses collectively indicate a potential reshaping of the German automotive landscape.
The growing influence of import brands is particularly noteworthy. BYD spearheaded growth in this segment, recording an astonishing 834.1 percent increase and a 1.6 percent market share. Fiat, Seat, Citroen, Skoda, Dacia and Mazda also demonstrated significant growth, underscoring the increasing competitiveness of non-German manufacturers and their ability to cater to evolving consumer demands. Conversely, Peugeot, Toyota, Volvo, Renault, Hyundai and Kia experienced substantial declines, suggesting challenges and a possible need for reassessment of their market positioning.
The rapid expansion of electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to be a defining feature of the German automotive market. November saw a 58.5 percent jump in EV registrations, now accounting for 22.2 percent of the total. Plug-in hybrids also contribute significantly at 12.9 percent. Although gasoline vehicles still hold a significant portion of the market at 24.4 percent, diesel’s share has shrunk to 11.8 percent. Critically, the average CO2 emissions of new car registrations decreased by a substantial 14.4 percent to 98.3 g/km, suggesting that the sector is, at least nominally, moving in the desired direction towards greater environmental sustainability.
However, observers are cautioned against interpreting these figures as unequivocally positive. The heavy reliance on government incentives to drive EV adoption remains a critical vulnerability and the long-term sustainability of this growth is questionable without fundamental shifts in cost structures and charging infrastructure availability. Furthermore, the struggles of several established German automakers warrant closer scrutiny as they face increasing competition from both domestic and international players. The data reveal a market in flux, demanding strategic agility and innovation to secure a share in the mobility landscape of the future.
