Fully electric vehicle sales achieved two record numbers in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2025, approaching half a million units in each country, according to statistics announced by the relevant authorities.
According to statistics released on Tuesday by the British automotive industry sector, fully electric vehicles represented a quarter of sales in the United Kingdom in 2025.
The association of car manufacturers and traders stated in a release that “approximately 473,340 electric vehicles were sold last year, an increase of 23.9%” compared to 2024 sales, placing the UK second in Europe by volume.
When including hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the proportion of electrified vehicles rises to nearly half of all sales in 2025.
The United Kingdom plans to ban the sale of new fuel-powered vehicles in 2030 (and 2035 for hybrids), placing it among the most ambitious countries in this field, especially after the European Union’s mid-December decision to extend the sale of new internal combustion engine cars beyond the target originally set for 2035.
Germany also set a record on Tuesday, surpassing the United Kingdom, with 545,000 fully electric cars sold there last year, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Motor Transport Authority, representing an increase of 43.2% compared to 2024.
15 Million Electric Cars
Germany remains committed to its promise of reaching 15 million electric cars in use by 2030, a goal that appears unrealistic.
The total number of new cars registered in Germany last year was 2.9 million, an increase of 1.4% compared to 2024, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority.
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However, the level is still far from what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, being about 750,000 units lower than before 2019, according to the EY study office.
Hybrid vehicles lead the Federal Motor Transport Authority’s rankings, displacing fuel-powered vehicles, having surpassed them with 1.1 million units registered, giving them a 39.5% market share.
Germany
Germany is a country in Central Europe with a complex history, having been a collection of states for centuries before unification in 1871. It was central to both World Wars, was divided into East and West Germany during the Cold War, and reunified in 1990. Today, it is known for its influential cultural contributions in philosophy, music, and science, and is a leading economic and political power in the European Union.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a sovereign nation comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with a history shaped by the Acts of Union in 1707 and 1800. It developed into a global power through the British Empire and is known for its constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, and influential cultural heritage.
Europe
Europe is a continent with a deeply layered history, shaped by ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome, the transformative Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the profound impacts of two world wars. Culturally, it is renowned for its diverse artistic heritage, architectural landmarks, and as the birthplace of influential movements like the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. Today, it is politically and economically unified in part by the European Union, which promotes cooperation among its many sovereign nations.
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries, founded after World War II to foster economic cooperation and prevent future conflict. It has evolved from the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 into a major supranational entity with a single market and a common currency, the euro, used by 20 member states.
Federal Motor Transport Authority
The Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, or KBA) is Germany’s national agency responsible for vehicle registration, licensing, and technical standards. It was established in 1951 in Bonn, with its headquarters later moving to Flensburg, and it plays a central role in ensuring road safety and regulating motor transport across the country.
BYD
BYD is a Chinese multinational company founded in 1995, originally as a battery manufacturer. It has since grown into a global leader in electric vehicles and rechargeable batteries, playing a significant role in the global shift toward sustainable transportation.
Tesla
Tesla is an American electric vehicle and clean energy company founded in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, though it is most famously led by CEO Elon Musk. The company is named after the pioneering inventor and electrical engineer Nikola Tesla and has played a major role in popularizing electric cars globally.
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic was a global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019. It led to widespread illness, death, and unprecedented public health measures worldwide, including lockdowns and travel restrictions, fundamentally altering daily life and the global economy for several years.
EY study office
The EY Study Office, also known as the Ernst & Young Study Office, is not a specific historical or cultural site but rather a modern professional environment. It typically refers to a workspace within the global professional services firm Ernst & Young, designed for research, analysis, and client work.
