December 2022 was a new record month for newly registered electric vehicles, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority. For the first time, more pure electric vehicles were registered than cars powered by internal combustion engines.

The share of fully electric cars was over 30 percent, while gasoline cars only accounted for 20 percent. Even plug-in hybrids exceeded gasoline cars with a share of around 22 percent of new registrations.

Over the course of the entire year, the number of newly registered electric vehicles amounted to approximately 525,000, an increase of 150,000 compared to the previous year. At the same time, around 1.08 million gasoline cars and 780,000 diesel vehicles were newly registered. In both cases, there was a reduction in new registrations in the gasoline and diesel segments (minus 12,000 gasoline cars and minus 100,000 diesel vehicles).

Changes in electric vehicle incentives in 2023

One possible cause for the significant increase in new registrations in the electric vehicle sector may be the change in incentives for the purchase of pure electric vehicles in 2023. The subsidy amounts will be reduced from 9,000 euros to 4,500 euros for pure electric vehicles with a net list price of up to 40,000 euros. The subsidy for plug-in hybrids has been completely eliminated as of January 1, 2023.

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