Double-digit reduction in CO2 emissions in transport in 2025

08.01.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The Federal Motor Transport Authority has published an initial assessment of CO2 emissions and sales of vehicles with alternative drive systems for 2025.

The average CO2 emissions of newly registered passenger cars fell by 11.7 percent to 105.8 g/km in 2025. This was announced by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). In the previous year, the figure was 119.8 g/km. This continues the downward trend that has been observed for several years, which is characterized by an increasing proportion of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Battery electric passenger cars reached a total of 545,140 new registrations in 2025. Their market share was 19.1%, which corresponds to an increase of 43.2% compared to the previous year. Hybrid-powered cars accounted for around 1.128 million new registrations, giving them a share of 39.5%. Within this group, plug-in hybrids grew particularly strongly. With 311,400 vehicles, they increased by 62.3 percent and achieved a market share of 10.9 percent.

Other alternative drive types continued to play only a subordinate role. According to the KBA, 12,080 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered cars were newly registered, a decrease of 11.9 percent and a share of 0.4 percent. Passenger cars powered by natural gas (CNG) were only registered 3 times, a drop of 97.8 percent.

Vehicles with hydrogen-based fuel cells achieved 49 new registrations, 69.0% below the previous year's figure. A single hydrogen-powered car was also newly registered. All of these drive types remained at a "market share of 0.0 percent".

Conventional drive systems continued to lose ground. With 777,640 new registrations, petrol-powered cars achieved a market share of 27.2 percent. Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to a decline of 21.6 percent, after a share of 35.2 percent in 2024. Diesel-powered cars reached 395,020 new registrations, a drop of 18.3%, and achieved an annual share of 13.8% after 17.2% in the previous year.

Three natural gas vehicles were registered in 2025

Overall, the annual figures for 2025 show a registration volume of around 2.9 million new vehicles. This corresponds to an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous year. The majority of new registrations were accounted for by commercial owners. Their share was 66.1 percent, 0.6 percent below the previous year's figure. Private registrations accounted for 33.6% and increased by 5.1%.

At segment level, SUVs dominated with a share of 33.3% and growth of 11.9%. This was followed by the compact class with 16.7 percent and a decline of 9.5 percent as well as small cars with 11.8 percent and a slight increase of 0.1 percent.

Increasing electrification is also evident in the commercial vehicle segment. A total of 390,990 new commercial vehicles were registered. This included 30,450 battery electric vehicles and 6,500 plug-in hybrids. The combined share of these two drive types was therefore 9.5 percent.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister