German car production stable in September as EV registrations surge

Germany’s car production remained stable in September while new car registrations, particularly for electric vehicles, showed strong growth, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

Domestic passenger car production reached 385,300 units last month, up almost 2% from September 2024, supported by one additional working day. Over the first three quarters of 2025, 3.14 million passenger cars rolled off production lines – a 2% year-on-year increase, though still 12% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

Exports fell slightly, with 292,900 cars shipped abroad, down 2% year on year. From January to September, exports totalled 2.41 million units, matching last year’s figure but remaining 10% below 2019 levels.

Incoming orders pointed to improving demand: domestic orders rose 10%, while foreign orders increased 3% compared with September 2024. Combined, total orders were 4% higher year on year, keeping year-to-date order volumes steady with 2024 levels.

Germany’s car market also picked up speed. New car registrations climbed 13% in September to 235,500 units, bringing the total for the first nine months to 2.1 million, roughly unchanged from last year. However, registrations remain 30% below 2019 levels, underscoring the market’s gradual recovery.

Electric vehicle sales continued their strong momentum. New EV registrations (BEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs) jumped 48% year on year to 73,200 units, marking the highest September on record. Year to date, 600,000 new electric vehicles have been registered, a 47% increase versus the same period in 2024.

Breaking down the figures, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rose 32% to 45,500 units in September and are up 38% year to date (382,200 units), while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) registrations surged 85% to 27,700 units last month, with a 64% increase in the first nine months (217,800 units).