FRANKFURT -- Tesla, Lexus, DS and Jaguar were among brands that saw the strongest sales gains in Germany in January in an overall market down 7.3 percent.
Total registrations fell year-on-year to 246,300 last month, according to data released by the KBA motor transport authority on Wednesday.
Tesla's registrations rose by 168 percent to 367 units, boosted by demand for the Model 3 electric sedan. Tesla is aiming to open a factory near Berlin in July 2021.
Overall sales of full-electric vehicles were up 61 percent, giving them a 3 percent market share. Sales of hybrid vehicles grew by 103 percent for a 12.5 percent market share. Included in the figure is a 307 percent jump in plug-in hybrid sales for a 3.5 percent share.
Sales of gasoline cars fell 17 percent, resulting in a 51.5 percent share. Diesel sales dropped 12 percent for a 32.6 share.
Among brands which saw big volume rises were Lexus sales, up 110 percent; DS rose 65 percent; Jaguar, up 63 percent and Porsche, up 53 percent.
Germany's main premium brands had a positive month with BMW registrations increasing by 6.5 percent, Mercedes-Benz by 2.9 percent, and Audi by 1.2 percent.
Germany's top-selling brand, VW, saw its sales drop by 4.1 percent.
Opel's registrations dropped by 24 percent, while Ford's volume fell 18 percent.
Brands that saw steep sales drops included Smart, which fell 97 percent; Suzuki, down 56 percent; Subaru; down 54 percent; and Dacia, which fell 42 percent.
- Download PDF here for German registrations by brand in January
Registrations to business fleets last month fell 5.1 percent for a 68.4 percent market share, while sales to private customers fell 12 percent for a 31.6 percent share.
The VDIK importers association expects the German market to decline by 7 percent to 3.35 million vehicles this year.
