BMW reclaims second place in German EV registrations

BMW has reclaimed the second position in Germany's electric vehicle (EV) registrations during the second quarter of 2026. The Munich-based automaker's EV sales surged, placing it behind only Volkswagen, according to data from the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority).

This performance marks a significant shift from the first quarter, when Tesla, Skoda, and Audi had ranked higher than BMW. In the second quarter, Volkswagen maintained its dominant lead with 25,600 new registrations. BMW followed closely with just over 19,000, narrowly ahead of Skoda's 18,700. Tesla registered 16,000 units, Mercedes-Benz 15,700, and Audi 12,400.

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These are relatively old cars, but with the prices they are competitive - that is also reflected in the registration numbers.

Industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer noted that Tesla, despite falling to fourth place, is performing substantially better than the previous year. He attributes this resurgence largely to significant price cuts implemented around the turn of the year for Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y. Dudenhöffer stated these older models remain competitive due to their reduced prices, which is reflected in the registration figures.

Dudenhöffer also suggested that price reductions may have benefited BMW as well, pointing to high discounts currently being offered by the manufacturer. He indicated that BMW's upcoming "Neue Klasse" models have not yet significantly impacted these figures, as their widespread delivery has not commenced. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers like BYD and Leapmotor are showing strong growth, though BYD experienced a slight setback in the second quarter.

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High discounts are currently being seen at BMW.