German sales rise 3% in February as EV demand recovers

FRANKFURT -- German registrations rose 2.8 percent in February as demand for EVs recovered.

Registrations of new passenger cars were 206,210 last month, according to data from the KBA motor transport authority

Sales of full-electric cars increased 15 percent to 32,475, after a falling 13 percent in January when government subsidies for battery-electric cars were significantly reduced.

Full-electric cars had a 15.7 percent market share in February.

Plug-in hybrid car registrations fell 45 percent 11,916 for a 5.8 percent market share. Government incentives for plug-in hybrids were dropped in January.

Gasoline cars are still the biggest sellers in Germany, with sales up 8.9 percent for a 36.5 percent market share. Diesel sales fell 7.3 percent for an 18.6 percent share.

MG among winners

Chinese-owned MG Motor is making inroads in Germany, helped by the MG4 Electric, a Volkswagen ID3 rival that went on sale in Europe in September. The brand's German registrations rose by 103 percent to 1,330 in February for a 0.6 percent market share.

Other monthly winners included Alfa Romeo, up 100 percent; Land Rover, up 63 percent;  Citroen, up 34 percent; and Porsche, up 37 percent.

Tesla, which has cut the prices of its cars, increased sales by 30 percent.

•    Download PDF here for German sales by brand

Market leader Volkswagen brand was up 7.1 percent, while registrations of No. 2 Mercedes-Benz rose 17 percent. No, 3 Audi gained12 percent, while No. 4 BMW fell 4.7 percent. Sales of Skoda, the fifth-besting selling brand, increased 7.9 percent.

Renault, Mini, Opel among losers

Among automakers whose sales fell were Renault, down 41 percent; Mini, down 20 percent; Opel, down 18 percent; Seat, down 11 percent, and Ford, down 2.6 percent.