BMW surges to second in German EV registrations as Tesla falls to fourth
Volkswagen remains the clear leader, but BMW's 19,000 new registrations in the second quarter pushed it past Skoda, Tesla, and Audi in the German market. Price cuts helped Tesla rebound from a disastrous 2025, but its Model 3 and Y could not hold the podium.
Rankings shift
Volkswagen delivered 25,600 new electric cars in the April to June period, far ahead of rivals. BMW vaulted from fifth place in the first quarter to second with 19,000 registrations, leapfrogging Czech brand Skoda (18,700) and US pioneer Tesla (16,000). Mercedes closed the quarter with 15,700 units, edging out Audi at 12,400. The reshuffle marks a reversal from Q1, when Skoda, Tesla and Audi had occupied the podium spots behind VW.
- VW
- 25600
- BMW
- 19000
- Skoda
- 18700
- Tesla
- 16000
- Mercedes
- 15700
- Audi
- 12400
- BYD
- 6000
- Leapmotor
- 5000
Tesla's price-fuelled recovery
Tesla's 16,000 registrations represent a sharp improvement over 2025, when Elon Musk's political involvement in Germany dented sales. In the first half of 2026 alone, Tesla has already sold roughly one-and-a-half times as many cars as in all of 2025. Industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer attributes the rebound to steep discounting at the turn of the year, with Model 3 and Model Y prices cut by several thousand euros.
These are relatively old cars, but with the prices they are competitive — you can see that in the registration numbers.
Dudenhöffer noted that high incentives also likely boosted BMW's figures. "High discounts are currently seen at BMW," he said, while cautioning that the Munich-based company's Neue Klasse models are not yet a factor, as large-scale deliveries have not started.
Premium brands under pressure
The data reveals a shift from premium and niche brands toward volume manufacturers. VW benefited from a model offensive, while Stuttgart's Mercedes and Ingolstadt's Audi slid in the rankings. This trend has market observers watching whether German luxury labels can defend their electric market share as price competition intensifies.
Chinese brands gain traction but remain small
Chinese newcomers collectively reached volumes comparable to Mercedes in the quarter. BYD recorded just over 6,000 registrations, Leapmotor nearly 5,000, and MG Roewe and XPeng each exceeded 2,000. All posted high growth rates, though BYD slipped from 12th to 13th place while Leapmotor climbed from 18th to 15th. Their combined presence is not yet threatening the established order, but the upward trajectory is clear.
