Number of German car exports from 2018 to 2023, by region

Europe was Germany’s leading car export region in 2023, with around 1.78 million vehicles exported there. However, Asia and the Americas were also markets to keep an eye on, with China posing increasing competition for the German car industry. 

Volkswagen in the lead

The German automobile industry is an indispensable part of both the national and global economy. Home to such car brands as Volkswagen, Mercedez-Benz and BMW, German cars are sought after. Based on the number of vehicles produced in Germany, Volkswagen was in the lead for several years in a row, far ahead of its competitors Mercedez and BMW, with around 9.31 million vehicles produced in 2023. Volkswagen aims to branch out into the electric vehicle market and is already taking steps in that direction. It also bought other well-known car brands, among them Audi, Porsche and Bentley. 

Rising sales

The German car industry saw falling employee numbers in recent years. Meanwhile, in 2023, total sales in the industry amounted to around 564.2 billion euros, an increase on the year before. While this is encouraging and signals that the industry is recovering after the COVID-19 pandemic, current energy costs and skilled labor gaps, to mention just a few challenges, are influencing German car manufacturing.