Tesla Model Y was Germany's best-selling car in September: 8,038 registrations, ahead of the VW Golf
KBA data show the Model Y finished first in Germany in September 2026 across all models, not just EVs. Tesla registered 12,552 cars, 3.7 times as many as a year earlier.
The Tesla Model Y was Germany's most-registered new car in September 2026, across all models and not just among EVs. According to the model statistics published by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), Germany's federal motor transport authority, Tesla's SUV logged 8,038 registrations, about 22% more than the VW Golf, which tops the chart almost every month.
| Rank | Model | September 2026 | vs September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 8,038 | +261% |
| 2 | VW Golf | 6,580 | −12% |
| 3 | VW Tiguan | 5,751 | +15% |
According to Best Selling Cars Blog, this is only the second time the Model Y has led Germany's overall chart, after September 2022. It was also the Model Y's best month of 2026 in Germany: electrive notes the previous high this year was 6,841 units in March.
Tesla almost quadruples
The Model 3 also climbed to 6th place overall with 4,512 registrations (+285%). In total, Tesla registered 12,552 cars in Germany in September, up 268.7% from 3,404 in September 2025, for a 4.9% market share. That is Tesla's best month in Germany since December 2022, and it was the top brand for electric cars, ahead of VW.
The rebound follows a weak 2025, when the Model Y managed just 12,303 German registrations for the whole year, down from 29,896 in 2024. In the first nine months of 2026 it has already reached 29,464. Electrive adds that the Model Y is also the most popular car in Germany's EV subsidy programme, with 8,297 approved applications between May and October 1.
Germany goes electric
The overall market grew 9% to 256,774 new cars. Battery-electric cars reached 88,599 units, or 34.5% of registrations. The same trend is visible across Europe, as we covered in our September roundup, and in France the Model Y also finished first.
