KBA Figures for October 2026: Electric Cars Take 37% of German Market
Germany registered 254,492 new cars in October 2026, 1.7% more than a year earlier, and battery-electric models took 37.0% of the market after a 79.5% jump. The figures come from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), published on 4 November, with Tesla registrations almost quadrupling according to Reuters.
Key takeaways
- 254,492 new cars, up 1.7% year on year.
- 94,086 battery-electric cars, up 79.5%, for a 37.0% share.
- Petrol registrations fell 40.5% and diesel 21.6%.
- Private registrations rose 20.6%, company registrations fell 8.2%.
Electric cars overtake petrol and diesel combined
Battery-electric cars outsold petrol and diesel models together by a wide margin in October. Petrol cars fell to 38,516 registrations, a 15.1% share, and diesels to 23,882, or 9.4%. Hybrids of all types reached 95,931, down 5.6% and slightly ahead of electric cars as a group, but plug-in hybrids within that total fell 7.9% to 28,499, an 11.2% share. Cars running on liquefied petroleum gas more than doubled to 2,065. Average CO2 emissions of new cars fell 21.1% to 79.4 g/km.
Private buyers return
The growth came from households. Private registrations rose 20.6% and reached 40.7% of the market, while registrations by companies, fleets and dealers fell 8.2%. That shift matters because company cars have long dominated new-car sales in Germany, and fleet demand is now the weaker part of the market.
Brands
Volkswagen remained the largest brand with an 18.2% share, though its volume fell 4.0%. Mercedes-Benz grew 8.5% and BMW was flat at plus 0.1%, while Opel dropped 24.1%. Skoda, the strongest import brand with a 7.7% share, fell 12.1%. BYD posted the biggest increase among import brands, up 54.3% to a 2.0% share. Tesla registered 2,932 cars, up 290.9% on a weak October 2025, Reuters reported.
| Fuel type | October 2026 | Change | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric | 94,086 | +79.5% | 37.0% |
| Hybrid (all) | 95,931 | -5.6% | 37.7% |
| of which plug-in | 28,499 | -7.9% | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 38,516 | -40.5% | 15.1% |
| Diesel | 23,882 | -21.6% | 9.4% |
What it means for buyers
With electric cars now the largest single fuel type in Germany's new-car market, buyers will find a wider choice in dealer stock, and the used market should see far more nearly new EVs from 2027 onwards. Buyers who still want a petrol car should compare offers closely, since falling demand gives room to negotiate. Plug-in hybrids are losing ground fastest among electrified models.
Background reading: Volkswagen's history and the electric car section.
Sources
- Wirtschaft und Industrie: Pkw-Neuzulassungen im Oktober 2026, Elektroautos legen um 79,5 Prozent zu (4 Nov 2026) (accessed 4 Nov 2026)
- ecomento.de: Elektroauto-Neuzulassungen 10/2026 (4 Nov 2026) (accessed 4 Nov 2026)
- Reuters via TradingView: Tesla registrations in Germany almost quadrupled in October (4 Nov 2026) (accessed 4 Nov 2026)
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