Germany’s new‑car market delivered another structural jolt in October 2026: the Kraftfahrt‑Bundesamt’s monthly data — compiled and published by market trackers — show 254,492 passenger‑car registrations in October, with 94,086 of them battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs), a 37.0% share of the month’s market. That continuing BEV surge coincided with a sharp rise in registrations of Chinese brands, which together reached about 17,079 units (6.7% market share) in October.
Who moved the volumes in Germany
The October breakdown underlines two simultaneous shifts. First, BEVs grew rapidly month‑on‑month and year‑on‑year: BEV volume in October 2026 rose almost 80% versus October 2025, according to the KBA‑based reporting. Second, Chinese manufacturers accounted for a disproportionately large share of that growth — BYD alone recorded 5,173 new registrations in October, and fast‑growing brands such as Leapmotor (3,661) and Xpeng (1,380) posted sharp month‑on‑month gains. Tesla also remains a major factor but shows volatility: October brought 2,932 Tesla registrations after a very strong September.
Austria: Stellantis climbs, BEV demand holds
Across the border in Austria, October was notable for strong dealer and brand performances rather than a single‑brand dominance. Stellantis Austria reported a 16.2% market share for October 2026 and said its cumulative result after ten months (41,313 new cars) already exceeds the whole of 2025 — a sign that the group’s broad model mix and its Leapmotor distribution are feeding real momentum. Stellantis highlighted that 37% of its October registrations were BEVs and that microcars remain a niche where the group dominates. The company cites Statistik Austria as the source for its market figures.
