Germany May 2026: BEVs up 39.3%, BYD (+232.1%) breaks ranking record again at #12

The Atto 2 is BYD’s best-seller in Germany in May.

239,448 new cars found a buyer in Germany in May, stable year-on-year (+0.1%). The year-to-date tally is now up 3.6% to 1,188,015. BEV sales surge 39.3% year-on-year to 59,969 and 25% share vs. 18% a year ago after growing 44.9% last year. They are up 40.9% year-to-date to 283,949 and 23.9% share vs. 17.6% over the first 5 months of 2026 after gaining 43.2% last year. PHEVs are up by a more discreet 10.8% to 27,921 and 11.7% share vs. 10.5% a year ago and are up 16.1% YTD to 131,581 and 11.1% share vs. 9.9% over the same period last year.

The Top 5 marques are all in negative. Volkswagen (-8.9%) and Mercedes (-8.9%) suffer the most to 19% and 8.3% share respectively, with Skoda (-0.8%, Audi (-2.7%) and BMW (-3.4%) more contained. Skoda (+16.3%) remains in 2nd place YTD. Renault (+43.5%) is the best performer in the Top 10, up 4 spots on last month to #10, its first German Top 10 finish since December 2023 (#8). Opel (+9.9%) is also in great shape at #6 but Ford (-21.7%) and Hyundai (-15.8%) disappoint. BYD (+232.1%) surges to a record 12th place and also manages all time high volumes (6,168) and share (2.6%), smashing its previous best of 4,705 and 1.9% reached just last month. Tesla (+322.4%) also posts a surreal gain to climb up to #15.

In the models ranking, the VW Golf (-4.2%), T-Roc (-5.9%) and Tiguan (-9.6%) continue to dominate, with the Opel Corsa (+38.1%) soaring to #4 both for the month and now YTD also. The BMW X1 (-2.4%) rounds out the Top 5 with 46% of its May volume coming from the iX1 BEV. The Mini lineup (+37.7%) is up five ranks on April to #6, while the BMW X3 (+82.5%) continues to be boosted by its new iX3 BEV variant accounting for 37% of its May sales (34% last month). Solid score also for the VW T-Cross (+9.4%) cracking the Top 10 for the first time since June 2022 at #9. The Telsa Model 3 (+848%) is up 9-fold to #20, its best ranking since topping the German charts outright in December 2022. Meanwhile the BYD Atto 2 (+539%) breaks into the Top 50 for the first time, lifting directly to #29 with a previous best of #69 hit just last month.

Previous month: Germany April 2026: Mercedes CLA (+177.2%), BMW X3 (+106.9%) impress

One year ago: Germany May 2025: BYD above Tesla again, Audi A6 reaches highest ever ranking

Full May 2026 Top 70 All brands and Top 356 All models below.