BEV bus registrations in Germany grew nearly 70% in Q1 2025

Battery-electric bus registrations in Germany grew significantly in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 278 units — a 68.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 165 battery-electric buses over 3.5 tonnes were newly registered.

According to figures released by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority and covered on German trade media omnibus.news, the broader category of buses with alternative drivetrains also saw growth. A total of 561 new buses with alternative propulsion systems were registered between January and March 2025, up from 403 in the same period last year.

Electric bus market in Germany

The latest edition of the PwC E-Bus Radar reveals that public transport operators have surpassed their ambitious targets, with nearly 2,950 BEB in operation within the German public transport system by the end of 2024. However, it also indicates the first signs of a slowdown in the robust market momentum seen in Germany over recent years, and there are legitimate reasons for this shift. In 2024 e-bus registrations in Germany decreased -12%.

This rise contrasts with the overall decline in total new bus and coach registrations during the quarter, indicating that demand for low-emission models continues to expand despite the broader market slowdown. The growth observed in 2025 is largely attributed to public transport operators executing investment plans based on previously approved federal funding decisions. These were granted before the suspension of subsidies for electric buses that came into effect under the last federal administration.