Germany May 2025: BYD > Tesla again, Audi A6 reaches highest ever ranking

The Audi A6 breaks a 13 year-old ranking record in May.

239,297 new cars hit German roads in May, a shy 1.4% year-on-year gain. Yet the year-to-date volume remains in negative for now at -2.2% to 1,146,596. BEV sales advance 44.9% year-on-year to 43,060 and 18% share and are up 43.2% year-to-date to 201,563 and 17.6% share while PHEVs soar 79.4% to 25,191 and 10.5% share in May and 52.8% YTD to 113,297 and 9.9% share.

The Top four brands all outpace the market. Volkswagen is up 5.1% to 20.9% share, Mercedes is up 9.9% to 9.1% of the market, BMW up 9.6% to 8.5% and Skoda is the best performer at +13.1% to 8.3% share. This is Skoda’s highest ever share in Germany, eclipsing its previous best of 8.2% reached last September. In contrast Audi (-2.6%) and most significantly Opel (-22.2%) disappoint. Below, Ford (+12.9%), Toyota (+11%) and Hyundai (+7.9%) are all solid whereas Seat (-39.1%) freefalls at #10. Cupra (+31.3%, without the Leon), slips outside the Top 10 but still manages the largest gain in the Top 20. BYD (+823.9%) continues to gear up at #25, outselling Tesla (-36.2%) for the 2nd month running and ever. Notice the appearance of Turkish EV maker Togg with just one sale.

The VW Golf (-16.5%) suffers but keeps the top spot for the 8th consecutive month at 3.1% share. It is followed like year-to-date by the T-Roc (-13.2%) and Tiguan (-6.3%) also weak. The Audi A6 (+113.1%) is boosted to #4 by the e-tron variant which accounts for 37% of its volume this month. This is simply the nameplate’s highest ever ranking since its launch in 1994. Its previous best was #5 hit in January 2012. The Fiat Ducato (+17%) remains very strong as the summer season is approaching and vehicles are being fitted into campervans. Excellent performance by the BMW X1 at #6, as well as by the VW ID.7 (+562.3%) at #12, the Mercedes GLC (+52.4%) at #13 and the BMW 5 Series (+84.5%) at #15. Two newcomers break into the Top 20 for the first time: the VW Tayron up four spots on last month to #18 and the Skoda Elroq up six to #20.

Previous month: Germany April 2025: BYD outsells Tesla

One year ago: Germany May 2024: Negative market (-4.4%), Opel Astra at highest in over 7 years

Full May 2025 Top 62 All brands and Top 368 All models below.