Chinese brands were mostly up or flat in Germany in May, except Nio, which was 35% down from the previous month, BYD was up 10%, while MG and Polestar rose more than 100%.
In May, 236,000 passenger vehicles were registered in Germany, down 4.3% from the previous year. 12.6% were battery electric vehicles (BEV), which translates to 29,708 units, significantly down 30.6% from the same month last year. Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) registered 14,038 units, up 1.7%.
Chinese brand registered 5,173 electric vehicles (EV), which translates to a 12% EV market share in the largest European auto market, up 44% from April.
The data are published by the German Federal Motor Authority, which tracks new car plate registrations in the country, and processed by CarNewsChina.
The first spot goes to MG, which registered a record-breaking 2,699 vehicles, up 107% from 1,304 units in April and 52% from 1,780 units last year. In the first five months of the year, between January and May, MG sold 8,444 vehicles in Germany, up 24.8% from the same period last year.
Smart secured the second position with 1,509 registrations, experiencing a slight decline of 2% from 1,532 units in April. In the first five months of the year, Smart sold 6,923 vehicles in Germany, up 5.5%.
Geely-made Smart badged EVs are co-engineered with Mercedes-Benz. According to official information, the EVs under the Smart brand are designed by the Mercedes-Benz global design team, while Geely is responsible for the engineering and development of the new models. Smart cars are produced in China in Geely’s Xi’an plant which started production in October 2021.
In third place, Polestar registered 414 vehicles, showing an increase of 101% from 206 units in April, though this is a 34% decrease from the 629 units registered last year.
In the first five months of the year, Polestar sold 1,251 vehicles in Germany, down 43.3%. All Polestar EVs are made in China in various Geely plants, mainly in Chengdu and Hangzhou.
GWM and its EV brand Ora followed with 268 registrations, a 9% increase from 247 units in April and a 73% rise from 155 units in the same period last year. In the first five months of the year, GWM sold 1,078 vehicles in Germany, up 149.5%.
BYD registered 201 vehicles, a 10% rise from 183 units in April and an impressive 272% increase from 54 units last year. In the first five months of the year, BYD sold 777 vehicles in Germany, up 370.9%.
Nio saw 35 registrations, a decrease of 34% from 53 units in April and a 20% drop from 44 units last year. In the first five months of the year, Nio sold 190 vehicles in Germany, down 7.3%.
Shanghai-based EV maker entered Germany in October 2022. Last, they managed to sell 1,263 vehicles in the country. By the end of the year, Nio will introduce its mass-market brand Onvo in Europe, which will be followed by an entry-level brand codenamed FireFly and its sub-30,000 EUR electric hatchback in 2025.
Lotus registered 29 vehicles, marking a 12% increase from 26 units in April but a 22% decrease from 37 units last year. In the first five months of the year, Lotus sold 118 vehicles in Germany, down 4.1%.
Maxus recorded 13 registrations, an 86% rise from 7 units in April and a 117% increase from 6 units last year. In the first five months of the year, Maxus sold 34 vehicles in Germany, up 277.8%.
Aiways had 4 registrations, a “100% increase” from 2 units in April and a “300% rise” from 1 unit last year. In the first five months of the year, Aiways registered 7 vehicles in Germany, down 70.8%. On May 15, it was reported Aiways would withdraw from the Chinese market and focus on the European market.
Lynk&Co registered only 1 vehicle, experiencing a sharp decline of 95% from 20 units in April and a 100% decrease from 237 units last year. In the first five months of the year, Lynk&Co sold 28 vehicles in Germany, down 98.2%.
For comparison, Tesla registered 1896 EVs in Germany, down 64% from the same month last year. In the first five months of the year, Tesla sold 16,601 vehicles in Germany, down 41.4%.
I was expecting better results for NIO in Germany. I guess they need time
Pure EVs have a difficult time here in Germany due to the high price of new cars and, above all, the lack of charging infrastructure.
At the moment, I therefore see hybrids as being better positioned, i.e. certain models from MG and BYD.
Best regards from Germany,
Frank
Support More EV Being Environment Friendly With No Combustion Exhaust Pollution And A Much More Economical Upkeeps Because Electricity Which Is Much Cheaper Compare To Petroleum Fuel, So Why Not Have EV Proven Financial Saving In Fuel.
Change Change Change To EV Proven Overall Saving Today, Instead Of Blindly Supporting Petrol Fuel Vehicle, And Gets More Burned Holes ln Our Own Pocket And Throwing Your Wallet Hard Earned Money Away.