Germans see domestic EVs as most competitive, survey shows

Many consumers in Germany believe the country produces the world’s most competitive electric vehicles, even as its auto industry faces mounting pressure, a survey showed.

About 43% of respondents in Germany said domestic manufacturers lead in competitiveness, ahead of China at 23%, according to a survey by consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

The poll, conducted online in November among just over 1,000 people in Germany, was described by the firm as representative.

Simon Schnurrer, a partner at Oliver Wyman, said the findings pointed to an opportunity to preserve and potentially expand automotive value creation in Europe, adding that manufacturers needed to sharpen their focus on pricing and digital capabilities to turn existing trust in quality and safety into faster purchasing decisions.

At the same time, the survey showed that 42% of respondents would consider buying an electric car from a Chinese brand instead of a German one, mainly due to lower prices. By contrast, 34% said they would not consider such a purchase, citing concerns over quality and safety standards.

More than 545,000 battery-electric vehicles were newly registered in Germany in 2025, according to data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Chinese carmakers have so far played a limited role in the market, though companies such as BYD have recently posted strong growth rates.