Over 50 Million Euros Paid Out for E-Car Premium – Tesla Leads Brand Ranking

In the ranking by brand, Tesla was on top with 2,086 approved vehicles, "followed by Skoda with 1,197 and Renault with 784 vehicles". This is according to the ministry's response. Looking at the auto corporations as a whole, however, a different picture emerges: Volkswagen leads with 2,720 vehicles from the brands Audi, Cupra/Seat, Porsche, Skoda and VW, "Es folgten Stellantis mit 2.278 Wagen der Marken Citroen, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Leapmotor, Opel und Peugeot sowie Tesla mit 2.086".

According to the ministry, funding is provided for "Kauf und Leasing von Elektroautos, bestimmter Plug-in-Hybride, die mit Strom und Kraftstoff fahren, sowie E-Autos mit ‚Reichweitenverlängerern'". The program originates from the black-red federal government of CDU/CSU and SPD. A prerequisite for the subsidy is a new registration since January 1, 2026.

How the Funding Works

How high the individual subsidy turns out depends on several factors: "Die Höhe des staatlichen Zuschusses hängt von Fahrzeug, Einkommen und Familiengröße ab und kann bis zu 6.000 Euro ausmachen." The funding is thus intended to specifically relieve those who depend on a new e-car or choose a particular model.

At the same time, the ministry pointed out that the figures so far represent only a preliminary snapshot. "Das Ministerium betonte mit Blick auf die Zahlen, wegen des noch kurzen Förderzeitraums und der hohen Marktdynamik mit fortlaufenden Einführungen neuer Modelle ließen sich daraus noch keine belastbaren Rückschlüsse auf die Verteilung der Förderung über die Gesamtlaufzeit des Programms ziehen", the ministry said, "und bilde zunächst nur eine Momentaufnahme ab".

Ministry Warns Against Premature Conclusions

In doing so, the ministry also responded to Tesla's conspicuous top placement – after all, the US brand had been politically controversial in recent months. The funding program itself does not differentiate by country of origin: every application is reviewed according to the same criteria, as long as the vehicle and the holder meet the requirements.

Independently of this, analysts are closely watching Tesla's course. On July 9, 2026, RBC Capital Markets rated the stock "Outperform", and Deutsche Bank AG assigned a "Buy" rating on July 15, 2026. JP Morgan Chase & Co was somewhat more cautious with "Neutral" on July 7, 2026, as was Jefferies & Company Inc with "Hold" on July 13, 2026.

Outlook on the Program

The coming months will show whether the program achieves its goal of noticeably boosting electric car sales in Germany. With up to 800,000 eligible vehicles and a total volume of three billion euros, the program remains one of the largest undertakings of the black-red coalition in the area of the mobility transition.

If demand continues to rise in the coming quarters, the Federal Ministry for the Environment is likely to provide the public with regular updates on approved applications and disbursed sums. Until then, the rule is: anyone who wants to buy or lease a new e-car and meets the funding requirements should submit the application via the official portal.