Germany's electric-car grant had approved 138,108 cars by 1 November 2026, and after two months of losing ground, Tesla kept pace with it in October.
The federal office that runs the income-tested grant, the Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA), has published its interim report for the 1 November cut. The scheme added 40,318 approvals in October. Tesla took 5,049 of them, or 12.5%, after taking only 8.9% of the 45,317 approvals added in September. Its share of all approvals edged up from 12.4% to 12.5%, ending the slide that cost it second place at group level a month ago.
Where the approvals stand
| Group | Approvals on 1 November | Share | Added in October |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Group | 28,724 | 20.8% | 8,100 |
| Stellantis | 18,907 | 13.7% | 5,237 |
| Tesla | 17,204 | 12.5% | 5,049 |
| Hyundai Motor Group | 14,490 | 10.5% | 4,075 |
| Renault Group | 12,084 | 8.7% | 3,688 |
| BYD | 8,616 | 6.2% | 2,802 |
| BMW Group | 8,237 | 6.0% | 2,152 |
| Leapmotor (Stellantis joint venture) | 8,110 | 5.9% | 2,294 |
| All approvals | 138,108 | 100% | 40,318 |
Second place is still out of reach. Stellantis added 5,237 approvals in October, slightly more than Tesla, so the gap between second and third widened from 1,515 to 1,703. BAFA counts the Leapmotor joint venture separately from Stellantis. BYD climbed from eighth to sixth, past BMW and the Leapmotor venture.
By brand, Tesla still leads comfortably, on 17,204 against Škoda's 9,894 and Cupra's 8,977, with BYD fourth on 8,616. Because Tesla is a single-brand group, the same total ranks first by brand and third by group.
The Model Y passed 11,000
BAFA lists most models by version, so the table adds the versions together.
| Model | Approvals on 1 November |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 11,393 |
| Škoda Elroq (five versions) | 7,749 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 5,798 |
| Volkswagen ID.3 (eight versions) | 4,573 |
| Leapmotor T03 | 4,541 |
The Model Y has led every monthly cut since applications opened on 19 May, and it now accounts for 8.2% of all approvals. In October, however, the Model 3 grew faster than the scheme, by 50.8% to 5,798, while the Model Y grew 37.3%, adding 3,096 approvals.
That split matters for the debate about tying the grant to European production. The Model Y is built at Grünheide for the European market, and Tesla's plan to make cells there would raise its local content further. The Model 3 comes from Shanghai. On 13 November, CDU Bundestag member Thomas Gebhart told Die Rheinpfalz that a lot of grant money goes to cars not produced in Europe, and that this must change. The Environment Ministry considers such a condition legally possible only once EU rules, such as the planned "Made in Europe" provision, are in place.
The money
BAFA reports €611 million paid out by 1 November, against €432 million a month earlier, so October added €179 million. Battery-electric cars took 91.7% of approvals and plug-in hybrids 8.3%. Leasing accounted for 48.3%, and 53.0% of approvals went to households in the lowest income band, up to €45,000.
The programme has €3 billion to spend through 2029. The government wants to raise the grant's 2027 budget line to €1.72 billion, and according to Der Spiegel it now assumes the money could be used up by the end of 2027.
What it means for Tesla buyers
Nothing about eligibility has changed, and the Model Y remains the car German buyers most often claim the grant for. The timing risk is also unchanged. The application is possible only after the car has been registered, so a buyer whose delivery slips carries the risk that the budget runs short first. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider wants buyers to be able to secure the grant at the time of purchase, but no draft rule or start date has been published.