FRANKFURT -- New-car sales rose in Germany 14 percent in September, as delivery backlogs eased and demand for battery-electric cars continued to grow.
Registrations for the month were 224,816, according to data from the KBA motor transport authority published on Thursday.
Sales of full-electric vehicles increased 32 percent for a 19.7 percent market share. Diesel vehicle sales rose 22 percent but diesel's 17 percent share of the market was below that of pure electric cars.
The VDIK importers association said the September double-digit growth was encouraging, but warned that the rise was largely due to an extremely weak month last year and automakers fulfilling orders built up in previous months when the Ukraine war and microchip shortages hit production.
The level of new registrations in September remains well below the long-term average, VDIK President Reinhard Zirpel said in a statement.
Polestar, Tesla winners
The Polestar brand was the biggest monthly winner with registrations up 115 percent. Tesla's rise in registrations was the second highest at 74 percent.
Other monthly winners included Audi and Dacia, both up 72 percent; DS, up 65 percent; Skoda, up 53 percent; Land Rover, up 48 percent; and Alfa Romeo, up 46 percent.
German premium brands had a mixed month, with Mercedes-Benz up 46 percent, while BMW sales were flat.
VW brand, the German market leader, saw registrations rise 30 percent, while Ford was up 22 percent. Opel fell 16 percent.
Through September, registrations are down 7.4 percent to 1.86 million.
"The balance after three quarters of 2022 is sobering. For the first time ever, passenger car sales are below 2 million units after nine months. The market urgently needs positive stimulus from stable framework conditions and consumer support in the face of rising energy and living costs," the VDIK's Zirpel said.
