# Germany New-Car Imports Rise as Export Volume Falls in 2026

> German new-car imports rose 16.0 percent in January-July 2026 while exports fell 4.0 percent in volume and 8.9 percent in value. China broader vehicle exports add context.

- Published: 2026-10-02
- Updated: 2026-10-02
- Category: Insights
- Author: Jayson Mays, Senior Automotive Sales Professional
- Source: https://carlio.app/blog/germany-new-car-imports-rise-export-falls-2026

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Germany recorded opposing movements in new passenger car trade during the first seven months of 2026. Imports increased in volume and value, while exports declined on both measures.

Imports reached around **1.3 million** new passenger cars with a value of **EUR 34.9 billion**. Exports reached approximately **2.0 million** new passenger cars with a value of **EUR 73.5 billion**. Aggregate vehicle export data from China through August 2026 describe China's aggregate vehicle exports on an all-vehicle basis. Those figures cover all vehicles and are not directly comparable to German new passenger car data.

> **Data note:** German trade figures cover January-July 2026 compared with January-July 2025. China vehicle export figures cover August 2026 and January-August 2026.

## A Trade Split Emerges

Import volume rose by **16.0 percent** year on year, while export volume fell by **4.0 percent** year on year. Import value rose by **12.6 percent**, while export value fell by **8.9 percent**.

![Editorial illustration of Tilted trade balance with rising imports, heavier declining exports, and locked unknown conditions.](https://storage.carlio.app/content/entries/d4da5579-607a-4710-9aee-60fc0489ad4b/5fc903ee-d56c-4381-9616-c8b42dd8ee3a)

Germany remained a net exporter of new passenger cars in volume and value terms. The figures describe traded volumes and values by flow and do not establish demand, pricing or inventory conditions.

| Flow | January-July 2026 | Year-on-year change |
| ---- | ----------------: | ------------------: |
| New-car imports, volume | around 1.3 million cars | +16.0 percent |
| New-car imports, value | EUR 34.9 billion | +12.6 percent |
| New-car exports, volume | approximately 2.0 million cars | down 4.0 percent |
| New-car exports, value | EUR 73.5 billion | down 8.9 percent |

## New-Car Imports Climb

Volume growth of **16.0 percent** outpaced value growth of **12.6 percent**, which indicates a lower average value per imported unit compared with the same period in 2025.

China was the largest source of imported new passenger cars. Imports from China reached **175,000 vehicles**, representing **13.8 percent** of total new-car imports, and increased by **120.9 percent** year on year. A 13.8 percent share means more than one in ten imported new passenger cars originated in China during the period.

| Import indicator, January-July 2026 | Figure |
| ---------------------------------- | -----: |
| Imports from China | 175,000 vehicles |
| Share of imports from China | 13.8 percent |
| Change in imports from China, year on year | +120.9 percent |

## Export Volume And Value Both Weaken

German exports of new passenger cars totaled approximately **2.0 million cars** in January-July 2026, down **4.0 percent** from the same period a year earlier. Export value totaled **EUR 73.5 billion**, down **8.9 percent** year on year.

The larger decline in value than in volume indicates a reduction in average export revenue per vehicle. The material does not specify the causes of the difference between the volume and value movements.

## Where German Cars Still Go

The United Kingdom was the largest of the destinations shown for German new passenger car exports in January-July 2026. Shipments to the United Kingdom reached around **258,000 cars**, representing **13.0 percent** of new-car exports. The United States followed with **245,000 cars**, representing **12.3 percent** of new-car exports.

Together, the two markets accounted for more than one quarter of German new-car exports by volume. Italy was the next largest destination in the reported dataset, with **147,000 cars** and a **7.4 percent** share. Exports to the United States were valued at **EUR 9.6 billion**, down **17.1 percent** in value year on year.

| Destination, January-July 2026 | Export volume | Share of new-car exports |
| ------------------------------ | ------------: | -----------------------: |
| United Kingdom | around 258,000 cars | 13.0 percent |
| United States | 245,000 cars | 12.3 percent |
| Italy | 147,000 cars | 7.4 percent |

<Chart type="bar" title="German new passenger-car exports by destination, January-July 2026" unit="thousand cars" caption="Source: Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis).">
  | Destination | Exported cars (thousand cars) |
  | ----------- | ----------------------------: |
  | United Kingdom | 258 |
  | United States | 245 |
  | Italy | 147 |
</Chart>

The chart compares export volumes across the three destinations for the same seven month period. It shows the narrow gap between the United Kingdom and the United States, and the lower level of shipments to Italy.

## China Broader Vehicle-Export Surge

Aggregate vehicle exports from China, covering all vehicle types and not passenger cars alone, totaled **1.01 million vehicles** in August 2026. The total increased by **65.3 percent** year on year and decreased by **3.2 percent** from the previous month.

| China aggregate vehicle exports, August 2026 | Figure |
| ------------------------------------------- | ------ |
| Export volume | 1.01 million vehicles |
| Change year on year | +65.3 percent |
| Change month on month | down 3.2 percent |

On a year-to-date basis, aggregate vehicle exports from China totaled **7.153 million vehicles** in January-August 2026, up **66.7 percent** year on year. The material does not provide an exact January-August 2025 total.

| China aggregate vehicle exports, January-August 2026 | Figure |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ------ |
| Export volume | 7.153 million vehicles |
| Change year on year | +66.7 percent |

These figures are not directly comparable to German new passenger car data because of differences in vehicle coverage, periods and reporting definitions. Strong growth in aggregate exports from China coincided with the rise in German new-car imports from China, although the two datasets measure different scopes.

## What The Divergence Means For Vehicle Traders

The data show rising German import volumes alongside falling German export volumes and values. Growth in imports from China contrasted with lower export value to the United States, which fell by **17.1 percent**.

![Editorial illustration of Converging trade straps linking thicker Chinese imports with uneven United Kingdom–United States exports.](https://storage.carlio.app/content/entries/d4da5579-607a-4710-9aee-60fc0489ad4b/917d2d8c-e7b5-4acd-8b39-310f3ad3276b)

The combined weight of the United Kingdom and the United States underlines the importance of those two destinations for German export volumes. The German data cover January through July, while the China aggregate data extend through August, so further releases will be required for a fuller comparison of later 2026 trends.

## Sources

- [Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) — Exporte von neuen Pkw in den ersten sieben Monaten 2026 um 4,0 % zum Vorjahreszeitraum gesunken](https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2026/09/PD26_332_51.html)
- [German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) — Exports of new passenger cars down 4.0% year on year in the first seven months of 2026](https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2026/09/PE26_332_51.html)
- [China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) — 2026年8月汽车工业产销情况简析](http://www.caam.org.cn/chn/4/cate_30/con_5237330.html)
- [Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area — China’s Auto Exports Top 1 Million for Third Straight Month](https://invest.teda.gov.cn/contents/2810/114900.html)

*Last updated: September 2026. Year-to-date totals cover the stated periods and will move as further months are added.*