Germany and Austria are moving in the same direction — more new cars — but with different market textures that matter for drivers, dealers and workshops. Germany recorded a strong month of new registrations in September driven by electric models, while Austria’s year‑to‑date registrations are up double digits as buyers shift fast to all‑electric and hybrid cars.

New‑car momentum: Germany’s monthly rebound, Austria’s steady rise

In Germany, the Kraftfahrt‑Bundesamt (KBA) shows 256,774 new passenger‑car registrations in September 2026, a 9.0% increase versus September 2025; battery‑electric vehicles accounted for 34.5% of that month’s registrations (88,599 BEV units). These figures underline a month in which commercial/fleet purchases (59.6% of September registrations) and a handful of high‑volume BEV models shaped the market.

Austria’s new‑car market has expanded through the first nine months of 2026: Statistics Austria reports 241,108 passenger cars registered January–September (+12.1% year‑on‑year) and says alternative‑drive vehicles comprised about two‑thirds of registrations in that period; in September 2026 all‑electric registrations jumped sharply (+80.6% vs. Sept. 2025). “Since the beginning of the year, total new car registrations have increased by 12.1%,” Statistics Austria director‑general Manuela Lenk noted in its October release.

Used market: prices cooling — except for used EVs

Behind the new‑car headlines the used market shows a split. Europe‑wide like‑for‑like indexes show Germany’s used prices easing: the ARST Used Car Index reports Germany −0.6% in October 2026 (month‑on‑month matched comparison), while Austria was slightly down at −0.2% for the same period. That softening reflects more supply and seasonal normalisation across many petrol and diesel segments.

At the same time, specialist dealer data find a growing premium for second‑hand BEVs. AUTO1’s Price Index for September records a fall in the overall European price level but shows BEV asking prices up sharply year‑to‑date (AUTO1: BEV +20.6% since January in Q3 data), and AutoScout24’s German AGPI found used electric cars averaging roughly €39,000 in September with demand rising about 27% month‑on‑month. “Buyers are weighing running costs more heavily — that is lifting demand for used BEVs despite higher asking prices,” AutoScout24’s Stefan Schneck commented.