In May, 301,600 passenger cars were produced in Germany. Compared to the same month of the previous year, this represented a significant decline of 18%. A large part of this decrease can be attributed to two fewer working days compared to May 2025. So far this year, 1.724mn passenger cars have been manufactured in Germany—5% fewer than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The gap relative to pre-crisis levels continues to widen: after the first five months, production stands 19% below the level recorded in 2019. Challenging business conditions—such as high labor costs, excessive bureaucracy, and rising energy costs—are placing Germany as a business location under increasing and additional pressure.

In the past month of May, exports—totaling 230,700 units—fell 19% below the figure for the same month last year. Since January, 1.306mn passenger cars have been exported—6% fewer than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Despite increasing trade barriers, more than three out of every four passenger cars manufactured domestically have been exported abroad over the course of the year.

Domestic orders rose by 2% in May compared to the same month of the previous year. At the same time, orders from abroad were 16% lower than the previous year's figure. Overall—combining orders from both domestic and foreign sources—14% fewer orders were recorded in May of this year than in May 2025.  

In May, the number of passenger car registrations remained unchanged compared to the same month of the previous year, standing at 239,400 units. In the first five months of the year, a total of 1.188mn new units were registered—4% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Here, too, the pre-crisis level of 2019 remains significantly undercut: after the first five months, the market stands approximately 22% below that level.

Last month, new registrations of electric vehicles (BEVs, PHEVs, FCEVs) rose by 29% to a volume of 87,900 units. The share of electric vehicles in total registrations thus stood at 36.7%—meaning that well over one in three new registrations last month was an electric passenger car. In detail: BEV registrations saw above-average growth, rising by 39% to 60,000 units. New registrations of PHEVs recorded more moderate growth of 11%, reaching 27,900 vehicles. In the first five months of the current year, the electric passenger car market reached a volume of 415,500 units—an increase of 32% compared to the first five months of the previous year. Accordingly, the year-to-date figures show a 41% increase in new BEV registrations, reaching 283,900 units. The PHEV segment grew by 16% during the first five months of the current year, reaching a volume of 131,600 vehicles to date.

In light of the dynamic trend in new electric vehicle registrations so far this year, the VDA has raised its forecast for the German passenger car market to 1.07mn units (+25%; previously +17%). Furthermore, the subsidies for electric cars—available for application since May 19—are slowly beginning to take effect.