German auto manufacturer Volkswagen (VW) edged past its US rival Tesla in electric car sales in the first seven months of the year, according to newly released figures. The electric auto market has bolstered car sales as a whole, but sales remain well below those for gas and diesel models. How do the figures look? Wolfsburg-based VW only just nudged ahead of Tesla,  with 41,475 first registrations of fully electric cars in the first seven months of the year compared to 40,289 passenger cars for the US manufacturer. Tesla had been ahead of VW for the first six months of the year, and was the German market leader for 2022 as a whole, according to the figures from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). German firms also took third, fourth, and fifth place. Mercedes clinched third with 20,613 registrations, followed by Audi on 16,786. Not far behind them were BMW with 15,987 and South Korean producer Hyundai with 15,411. In total, there were 268,926 first registrations for electric vehicles between the start of January and the end of July. However, the figures still lag way behind those for internal combustion engine models, which clocked up 1.64 million new registrations. Long road to recovery While overall car sales have rebounded since the start of the year, they are still substantially lower than the level recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. German carmakers such as Volkswagen and BMW produced 300,300 vehicles in July, 20% more than in the same period last year, according to Germany's VDA industry association. Supply chain issues — notably when it comes to semiconductors — have dogged the sector that had slowed deliveries to customers. Registrations of electric vehicles boosted the auto market, which rose almost 70% in July year on year, making up 20% of all registrations. Analysts have warned that the end of electric car subsidies for company fleets will likely dampen the market from September. A weakening of Germany's economy, with stagnating growth, high inflation, and rising interest rates, is also expected to weigh on the market. While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.

Worldwide group vehicle deliveries of Germany's largest car manufacturer Volkswagen rose by 5.1 percent in November year-on-year, it announced on Friday. In November, the car maker delivered 988,800 vehicles to its customers globally and managed to grow its market share in all key regions, according to Volkswagen. Volkswagen noted that vehicle deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region also grew, which led to a "significant rise in the group's market share." The "positive development" in the Asia-Pacific region had been driven by Volkswagen's largest single market China, which grew "markedly" by 5.1 percent to a total of 419,700 cars, according to the company. With 13.7 percent, Volkswagen recorded a "significant growth" in vehicle deliveries in the United States, making it the fastest growing market in November with a total of 56,800 vehicles delivered. Vehicle deliveries in Volkswagen domestic market also increased strongly by 9.1 percent -- selling 116,500 units in November. Globally, the German car marker's core brand Volkswagen delivered 3.9 percent more passenger cars in November year-on-year while commercial vehicles by Volkswagen recorded a strong decrease of 16.5 percent. Volkswagen subsidiary and truck and bus manufacturer Scania had to take heavy losses in November as well, decreasing by 26 percent year-on-year. Vehicle deliveries by luxury sports car manufacturer Porsche, on the other hand, recorded the highest growth rates of all Volkswagen subsidiaries and increased by more than 30 percent compared to November 2018. Source: Xinhua/UNB AH