Germany’s 2024 Car Market Grows Just 1% Amid Cautious Buyer Sentiment
Germany’s vehicle market showed modest growth in 2024, with ownership transfers rising by just 1% over the previous year. While some segments performed well, overall registrations remained nearly flat, hovering around 2.85 to 2.9 million cars for the full 12 months.
A total of 7,600,745 motor vehicles changed hands nationwide in 2024, up slightly from 2023. However, by the end of November, the market was still lagging behind the previous year’s figures. Only in December did transfers pick up, rising by 8.8% compared to the same month in 2023.
Trailers saw the strongest relative increase, with 438,185 units transferred—a 3.2% rise. Nearly all vehicle segments experienced year-on-year growth, except for buses. Despite these gains, new car registrations showed little momentum, growing by just 1–1.5% annually. Several months even recorded declines, preventing any sustained monthly surge. The overall trend remained sluggish, with no record-breaking spikes in activity. Instead, the market stayed close to its 2023 performance, reflecting cautious buyer behaviour.
The 2024 figures confirm a steady but unremarkable year for Germany’s vehicle market. While ownership transfers edged up by 1%, new registrations grew only marginally, and monthly fluctuations kept the sector from stronger gains. Trailers and most vehicle types saw modest improvements, but buses bucked the trend with no growth.
