Lost year: Germany electric car sales go into reverse [Video]

Sales of new electric vehicles in Germany plunged last year, official figures showed Monday, as a slow switch to battery-powered cars deepened the woes of the country’s flagship auto industry.

Just 380,609 EVs were registered in 2024 in Europe’s largest auto market, 27.4 percent fewer than in the previous year, the KBA federal transport authority said.

After years of growth, demand for battery-powered cars lost momentum as the German economy has struggled and key subsidies were withdrawn.

The slump in EV sales amounted to a “lost year for electro-mobility”, said EY analyst Constantin Gall.

The sudden end of the support programme in 2023 amid a government budget crisis had led to “massive uncertainty among potential buyers”, he said.

High prices for new EV models, still patchy charging infrastructure and range limitations were putting off new buyers in Germany, he said.

The drop in EV sales led an overall decline in …