German drivers are switching from combustion-engine vehicles to electric cars at record rates, according to data from insurer HUK Coburg. In the second quarter, 12% of private customers who switched their HUK-insured vehicle moved from a combustion-engine car to a pure electric vehicle, more than double the rate recorded earlier in the year and the highest quarterly figure since the survey began in 2020. The shift has been particularly strong in the new-car market, where the switching rate reached a record 24.9%, while the used-car market recorded a new high of 7.9%. HUK Coburg linked the acceleration partly to sharply higher fuel prices, with petrol and diesel in Germany rising above €2 per litre after the conflict with Iran began in late February.
Key Overview
- 12% of private HUK Coburg customers switching vehicles moved from combustion engines to EVs in Q2.
- The figure was the highest quarterly rate since the survey began in 2020.
- The new-car switching rate reached a record 24.9%.
- The used-car switching rate rose to 7.9%.
- Petrol and diesel prices in Germany climbed above €2 per litre.
- Frequent drivers travelling more than 12,000 kilometres annually recorded even higher EV switching rates.
- Volkswagen sold the most pure electric cars in Germany in July.
- Tesla’s share of the all-electric market rose to 12.2% in the first half of the year.
German Drivers Switch to EVs at Record Rate
Growing numbers of German drivers are moving from combustion-engine vehicles to electric cars, with the shift accelerating in both new and used vehicle markets.
According to data from insurer HUK Coburg, nearly one in eight – 12% – moved from a combustion engine vehicle to a pure electric car
The 12% switching rate was more than double the rate recorded in January and February and represented the highest quarterly figure since the survey was introduced at the beginning of 2020.
Fuel Prices Strengthen the EV Case
HUK Coburg linked the acceleration in electric vehicle adoption partly to the sharp rise in fuel prices.
The conflict with Iran began in late February, after which German petrol and diesel prices climbed above €2 ($2.3) per liter, a level not crossed since 2022.
Higher fuel costs can significantly affect the economics of vehicle ownership, particularly for drivers who cover large distances.
For motorists, rising petrol and diesel prices increase the recurring cost of operating combustion-engine vehicles, potentially making the running-cost advantages of electric vehicles more attractive.
Jörg Rheinländer, the HUK Coburg board member responsible for motor insurance, said the rise in fuel prices had helped drive the latest acceleration in electric mobility.
“The ramp-up of electric mobility has reached a new dimension, driven in part by the sharp rise in fuel prices.”
New-Car EV Switching Reaches 24.9%
The shift toward electric vehicles has been particularly strong among buyers of new cars.
The rate at which customers switched from combustion vehicles to pure electric cars reached a record high of 24.9% in the second quarter.
This surpassed the previous record, set at the end of 2022, by 1.8 percentage points.
The data indicates that electric vehicles are gaining a stronger position among German motorists replacing their vehicles, particularly as fuel costs remain an important consideration.
Used EV Market Also Sees Strong Growth
The development in the used car segment has also been significant.
According to HUK Coburg, the used-car market in Germany is more than twice the size of the new-car market and had previously lagged behind electric vehicles.
However, the rate of customers switching from combustion-engine vehicles to electric cars reached 7.9%, a new record.
The figure was more than double the rate recorded during the same quarter a year earlier.
Rheinländer said used electric vehicles could become a significant factor in accelerating the country’s electric mobility transition.
He said the trend could potentially accelerate further if buyers of used electric cars, as well as new-car buyers, were able to benefit from the state electric car subsidy.
Frequent Drivers Show Higher EV Switching Rates
The shift is even more pronounced among motorists who drive longer distances.
Among frequent drivers covering more than 12,000 kilometres per year, switching rates to electric vehicles are considerably higher.
This suggests that fuel costs may have a particularly strong influence on motorists with higher annual mileage, as they face greater exposure to changes in petrol and diesel prices.
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EVs Support Broader European Market Growth
The German trend is also occurring alongside wider growth in Europe’s electric vehicle market.
In June, new electric vehicles contributed to the biggest jump in overall car sales across the continent since late 2023.
The development suggests that the growth of electric vehicles is not limited to Germany, with EVs becoming a larger part of the new-car market across the region.
Volkswagen Leads German EV Sales
The state subsidy is also likely to have contributed to the high number of new electric vehicle registrations in July.
According to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, which cover both private and company vehicles, Volkswagen sold the most pure electric cars in Germany in July and also led the market from the beginning of the year.
Volkswagen sold just over 10,000 pure electric vehicles in July and almost 60,000 since the start of the year.
In July, BMW came second with 7,700 and Škoda, VW’s Czech subsidiary, was third with 6,400.
For the year to date, however, Škoda ranked second with approximately 43,100 electric vehicles, ahead of BMW with around 38,700. Mercedes and Audi followed.
Tesla Regains Market Share
Tesla also recorded a recovery in Germany’s all-electric vehicle market.
After its share of the pure-electric market fell from 15.5% to 5.6% last year, the company’s share increased by almost the same amount during the first half of this year to 12.2%.
The rebound comes as established European manufacturers and electric vehicle companies compete for a growing share of the market.
Outlook
Germany’s latest EV switching data points to a stronger shift toward electric mobility, with both new and used electric vehicles recording their highest switching rates since the HUK Coburg survey began. Rising petrol and diesel prices, particularly after fuel costs moved above €2 per litre, appear to be strengthening the financial case for drivers considering an EV. The strong increase in used EV adoption could also broaden access to electric mobility, while continued growth in new EV registrations across Germany and Europe suggests that electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important part of the automotive market.
FAQs
1. What percentage of German drivers switched to EVs in Q2?
12% of private HUK Coburg customers who switched their insured vehicle in the second quarter moved from a combustion-engine vehicle to a pure electric car.
2. What was the EV switching rate for new cars?
The switching rate for new cars reached a record 24.9% in the second quarter.
3. How did used EV adoption perform?
The used-car switching rate rose to a record 7.9%, more than double the figure recorded in the same quarter a year earlier.
4. Which automaker sold the most EVs in Germany in July?
Volkswagen sold the most pure electric vehicles in Germany in July, with just over 10,000 vehicles.
Sources: A News, Briefs Finance, Yahoo Autos, Baltic News
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