Despite the electric‑vehicle subsidy that began at the turn of the year, German car dealers remain largely pessimistic about 2026. In a survey of 590 members of the Central Association of German Automotive Trade (ZDK), 42 % of respondents expect declining sales next year, while only one in five anticipates an improvement. The same poll, reported by “Welt am Sonntag”, also shows that half of the surveyed businesses now assess their situation as worse than in the previous survey conducted in summer 2025.
ZDK president Thomas Peckruhn explained that the initial announcement of the subsidy sparked enthusiasm among dealers but now demands a faster, more concrete implementation. “The platform for applying for the subsidy won’t go live until May, which creates uncertainty for potential buyers” he said. “Customers want assurance that they will receive the funds”.
Additional confusion arises from manufacturer statements that internal combustion vehicles will remain available longer than originally planned. “This makes people think-and those who are uncertain will not buy” Peckruhn added. He called for the online application platform to be launched as soon as possible. “Three billion euros are earmarked for the subsidy, yet they remain unused” he emphasized.