Mobility: ADAC expects increasing registration numbers for electric cars

The ADAC expects an increase in e-car registrations this year as the pressure on manufacturers increases due to reduced CO2 fleet limits. The traffic club said car buyers could probably benefit from higher discounts.

The e-car boom in Germany came to an abrupt halt last year. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), only around 380,600 purely electric cars were newly registered in 2024. That was more than a quarter less than the year before. The share of all new registrations fell by almost five percentage points to 13.5 percent.

In order to increase the attractiveness of e-mobility, cheaper models as well as affordable and transparent charging prices are crucial, emphasized the ADAC.

The traffic club sees the fact that some manufacturers have announced new entry-level models under 25,000 euros for this year as positive. “The range of models is growing, and the expansion of the charging infrastructure is also progressing,” said Stefan Gerwens, Head of Transport at ADAC. In 2024, the number of charging points increased by over 20 percent, and for fast chargers by almost 40 percent. “However, we still see large differences and ambiguities in prices.”

According to the ADAC, the outcome of the federal election at the end of February will also be crucial. “Reliable political framework conditions are essential for the ramp-up of e-mobility,” said Gerwens. In view of the ongoing uncertainty, private buyers either postponed a purchase decision or switched to combustion engines.