Mobility Transition on the Brink: What Remains of the E-Car Promise?

After the abrupt end of government subsidies for electric vehicles in winter 2023, the market slid into crisis: new registrations plummeted by 27.4% in 2024-the sharpest decline in years. Although there was a slight recovery in the first quarter of 2025, the overall level remains low and the industry continues to face significant pressure.

Despite lower operating costs, tax exemptions, and a growing variety of models, the goal of 15 million e-cars by 2030 remains out of reach-realistically, only about 4.4 million are expected according to forecasts. VW has overtaken Tesla as market leader, while Chinese brands like MG and BYD are intensifying competition.