News from 2025-08-05 / KfW Research

Growing demand for electric cars – German exports are also picking up

Demand for electric vehicles is growing, both in Germany and around the world. Electric vehicles are also becoming more important for the German export market. In the first quarter of 2025, more than one in four cars exported from Germany was a battery-electric vehicle (BEV). On average, 82,000 BEVs worth EUR 3.4 billion were exported each month. Germany now generates a higher export surplus with BEVs than with other cars. The value of exports of BEVs exceeds the value of imports by a factor of 5.

Besides, electric vehicles offer increasingly greater climate benefits. According to the KfW Energy Transition Barometer, one third of the electricity used to charge EVs in Germany is now self-generated and green, a new record. Consumer concerns about electric vehicles are decreasing. Approaches to increase EV uptake include removing information deficits, providing incentives for time-optimised charging and improving the conditions for charging in multi-family homes.

Growing demand for electric cars – German exports are also picking up

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