FRANKFURT: Electric-vehicle sales in Germany will surpass California’s for the first time this year, with a range of government incentives propelling Europe’s biggest auto market ahead of Tesla Inc.’s home state.
State-funded subsidies of as much as €9,000 per battery-powered vehicle have boosted Germany’s electric-car fleet to twice the size of Norway’s, which still reigns as the country with the highest per-capita EV penetration. Once world leaders in automotive innovation, the three German manufacturers combined are valued at less than half their US rival, which is building a factory near Berlin to challenge the companies on their home turf.
Germany last month said it will extend cash bonuses for buying EVs until 2025, expand the country’s charging network and make payments for topping up batteries easier.