Skip to main content

Volkswagen edges past Tesla in tight German EV race through July with an unsung hero

Germany’s top automaker just took the top EV position after squeaking by Tesla in electric car registrations through July. Volkswagen leads the German EV market with its new electric van gaining momentum.

Volkswagen overtakes Tesla in the German EV market

Although Tesla has led the market up until the first half of the year, Volkswagen regained the top position this past month.

According to data from Automobilwoche, Volkswagen had 41,475 EV registrations in the first seven months of the year, compared to Tesla, with 40,289 vehicles.

After launching the electric version of its iconic minibus, the ID.Buzz last year, Volkswagen is seeing increased interest as production ramps up, which likely tipped the scale. After 2,279 ID.Buzz models were registered in the first half of the year, in July, it was 536.

Meanwhile, the ID.4 and its sporty ID.5 GTX make up the majority of registrations, with 22,405 through July. The smaller VW ID.3 was next with 13,647, while the E-Up had 2,943 registrations.

Top EV makers in the German marketRegistrations Jan-July 2023
1. Volkswagen41,475
2. Tesla40,289
3. Mercedes-Benz20,613
4. Audi16,786
5. BMW15,987
6. Hyundai15,411
Top EV makers in Germany through July 2023 (Source: Automobilwoche)

Tesla’s Model Y electric SUV carried the bulk of registrations in the German EV market, with 29,829 through seven months. The Model 3 had 9,045, followed by the Model S (855) and Model X (494).

Top comment by DJZ

Liked by 8 people

Can't lie, I like the Buzz. It's fun, practical, and it may not have competition for a while. My dad keeps talking about it so this may be a mildly successful product with the older crowd. However, I suspect more tech-savvy (i.e. younger) buyers will not be willing to live with the compromises.

View all comments

In third was Mercedes at the end of July with 20,613, with the EQA seeing the highest (7,813). Audi was fourth with 16,786, BMW fifth with 15,987, and Hyundai placed sixth with 15,411.

New brands like SAIC subsidiary MG are seeing higher figures with 11,638 registrations. Polestar had 4,210, while BYD gathered 632 approvals.

Electrek’s Take

With ID.Buzz electric van registrations heating up, will Volkswagen maintain or extend its lead over Tesla in the German EV market?

Volkswagen has been saying for many years it will surpass Tesla and become the global leader in EV sales. In 2010, former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn stated, “The goal is to become the market leader in E-mobility by the year 2018.” It’s seven months through 2023, and Volkswagen is coming alive in its home market. Now it’s time to pick up the pace and expand sales globally.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Peter Johnson Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson is covering the auto industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is an experienced investor, financial writer, and EV enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is a significant reason he pursued a career in investments. If he isn’t telling you about his latest 10K findings, you can find him enjoying the outdoors or exercising

Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
Please wait...processing
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
Please wait...processing