The number of new passenger car registrations last month rose by 16.8 percent to 208,642 compared to October 2021 and was thus above the previous year’s level for the second time in a row. As reported by the Federal Motor Transport Authority, new commercial registrations increased by 21.9 percent. They made up two-thirds. Purchases of new private cars increased by 8.4 percent.
Of the German brands, Audi achieved the strongest growth in registrations, almost doubling, and achieved a market share of 8.3 percent. Volkswagen increased by almost 46 percent and remains the market leader with a share of 19.7 percent. While Ford and Mercedes, with market shares of 5.7 and 10.2 percent respectively, were able to increase their new registrations in double digits, Opel, Porsche and BMW, along with the discontinued Smart model, also recorded double digit declines. Opel came to 4.7 percent of all new registrations, BMW reached 7.2 percent, and Porsche it was just over one percent.
The strongest import brand was again Skoda with a new registration share of 5.5 percent and an increase of 50.8 percent compared to October of the previous year. Among the volume brands, Seat also recorded growth of more than 50 percent to four percent of newly registered passenger cars. Toyota achieved an increase of 46 percent and increased its market share to 3.4 percent. Among the smaller players, Polestar, DS, Tesla and Alfa Romeo all showed significant gains, while Lexus, Subaru and Suzuki posted declines of more than 40 percent. Toyota came to a plus of 46 percent and increased the market share to 3.4 percent.
29.3 percent of all new cars were SUVs (up 20.1 percent). With an increase of 18.6 percent, the compact class achieved a share of 17.1 percent and was the second strongest segment. With the exception of mini-vans, the luxury class and mobile homes, all other vehicle classes also recorded increases in registrations.
32 percent of new cars were petrol (+3.1%), while diesel vehicles caught up again with an increase of 18.3 percent and a share of 17.5 percent. 17.1 percent of all new registrations were electric cars (+17.1%) and 15.4 percent plug-in hybrids (+35.1%). Demand for liquid gas cars fell to just under 930 units (-7.1%), while natural gas cars continued to slide into insignificance with just 126 new registrations.
According to the KBA, the average CO2 emissions of all newly registered cars fell by 4.1 percent to 107.3 grams.
While new registrations of motorcycles rose by more than half, they fell for commercial vehicles with the exception of semitrailer tractors. The used car market also developed worse than in the same month last year with a minus of 18.2 percent. (awm)