Tesla, Porsche boost sales in German market down 27% in December

FRANKFURT -- Tesla, Polestar and Porsche were among brands that increased sales in a German market down 27 percent in December.

New-car registrations for the month were 227,630, according to data from the country's KBA motor authority.

The December result means sales for the year were 2.62 million, 10 percent lower than an already poor 2020, when the initial outbreak of COVID-19 shuttered factories and kept buyers away from showrooms.

Sales were hit by the global shortage of semiconductors, which forced automakers to reduce production and led to a shortage of cars at dealerships.

Customers wanted to buy more cars but manufacturers but could only partially deliver because of production bottlenecks, said Reinhard Zirpel, president of the VDIK importers association.

Automakers from Volkswagen to Stellantis  are hoping the semiconductor shortage will gradually ease this year but have warned supply will remain tight in the first half. Mercedes-Benz said this week it will keep in place a task force to help ease any bottlenecks that risk disrupting production.

In December, Tesla sales rose 88 percent, while Polestar was up 38 percent and Porsche increased 34 percent. Other winners included Suzuki, up 83 percent and Mitsubishi, up 43 percent.

The biggest losers included Jaguar, down 70 percent; Mazda, down 60 percent; and Ford and DS,  both down 51 percent.

Sales at market leader VW brand fell 36 percent, while Seat fell 34 percent and Skoda was down 27 percent.

Among premium brands, BMW's registrations declined by 37 percent, while Mercedes-Benz dropped 31 percent, and Audi's volume was down 27 percent.

• Click here for German sales for December, 12 months

Sales of electrified vehicles continued a steep growth path during 2021.

Full-year sales of battery-electric vehicles rose by 83 percent to 355,961 for a 13.6 market share. Demand for plug-in-hybrid vehicles increased 62 percent to 325,449 for a 12.4 percent market share.

Diesel continued to lose market share as sales dropped by 36 percent to 524,446 to give the powertrain a 20 percent market share. Demand for gasoline vehicles fell 29 percent to 972,588, for a 37.1 percent market share.

Bloomberg contributed to this report