Start with the Pillar
The Complete Expat Guide covers all topics at overview level and links to each specialist guide. If you're new to the German car market, start there.
The comprehensive overview that links to every guide in this cluster
Complete 2025 Pkw-Neuzulassungen breakdown by brand, segment and Antriebsart, with Q1 2026 data. KBA, VDIK, DAT sources. Written for the expat buyer.
Deep-dive analyses of specific market segments and trends
VW Golf, T-Roc and Tiguan held the top KBA ranks in Germany last year — and none of them was electric. Full breakdown by KBA data.
BEV share in Germany hit 24% in March 2026, up from 19.1% across the full year 2025. KBA brand data, Tesla decline, BYD boom and the 2030 target gap.
Compare the total cost of ownership for electric cars vs. SUVs. Analyze EV running costs, ownership, and gasoline segment comparisons for 2025 vehicles.
Free resources referenced in the guides above
Verify specs, check original MSRP, calculate depreciation — 5,000+ vehicles with verified data.
Free bilingual purchase contract — the same form referenced in the buying guide and selling guide.
Side-by-side comparisons with data from catalog specs — narrow your shortlist before visiting a dealer.
The reports in this cluster exist because nobody else publishes English-language analysis of German automotive registration data with the depth that the market deserves. The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt publishes excellent monthly statistics — but only in German, in PDF format, with no historical comparisons and no interpretation. UK editorial sites ignore Germany entirely. Industry analysts (S&P Global, JATO) write paywalled B2B reports. This leaves an information gap that affects expats, international buyers, journalists writing about the European market, and researchers tracking the EV transition.
Every report follows the same methodology: primary data first, secondary analysis second. We pull raw KBA statistics, cross-reference against ADAC reliability data and GDV insurance classifications, then write the analysis. Where we cite a number, we link to its source and timestamp it. Where we make a forecast, we explain the methodology — and revise it when the data changes.
The monthly KBA report is the cluster's pillar — refreshed on the first business day of each month with the previous month's registration data. Specialist reports (EV adoption, depreciation, Chinese brands, segment TCO) update quarterly or whenever new data warrants it. If you spot an error or have data to share, the methodology page explains how to reach the data team.
The Complete Expat Guide covers all topics at overview level and links to each specialist guide. If you're new to the German car market, start there.
Every guide links to relevant vehicles in the Automobilisto catalog. Use catalog specs to verify claims, compare models, and check original MSRP data.
German automotive regulations change frequently. Every guide shows its last-verified date. If a guide is older than 6 months, check our News section for recent regulatory changes.
Articles from Market Analytics, Technical Reference, and History that connect to buying decisions
All Magazine ArticlesThe practical buyer's version of our segment TCO comparison — what an individual owner actually pays per month.
The technical companion to our EV adoption report — which powertrain makes sense for your driving profile.
How Europe's largest automaker reached its current market position — context for why VW dominates KBA data.