Plug-in Vehicles Fall Short of Political Targets

In November, 19,615 cars were registered as new, almost the same number as the previous year (-0.4%). This highlights the significant sales efforts of importers and dealers who tried to turn another poor year around with campaigns. Pure electric vehicles (BEV) did manage a market share of 24.3 percent in November, with plug-in hybrids (PHEV) achieving 11.5 percent, resulting in a combined 35.8 percent.

Cumulatively from January to November, new registrations in 2025 are more than three percent (-3.4 percent) behind the figures from 2024: 206,993 new passenger cars were newly registered. The cumulative market share is 21.6 percent for BEVs and 11.2 percent for PHEVs, a total of 32.8 percent. The trend of recent months continues: the moderate growth cannot hide the fact that the target of the Electromobility Roadmap of 50 percent plug-in vehicles remains an unattainable Christmas wish. Missing the target will result in sanctions costing the Swiss economy hundreds of millions for the year 2025.

The persistently low market penetration of electric drives shows that the spark still hasn't caught on with consumers. High electricity prices, inadequate charging infrastructure, and a lack of market-based incentives are brakes preventing stronger growth.

Thomas Rücker, Director of auto-schweiz, states: 'The industry has mobilized what is possible - from the wide range of models to numerous offers. But without a functioning electromobility ecosystem, the shift to low-emission driving remains stuck halfway. Further increases in individual and commercial mobility costs must be rejected.'

Continued Growth of PHEVs

The stable upward trend in plug-in hybrid vehicles, which increased by a third to 11.5 percent in November compared to the previous year, is encouraging. Many customers appreciate the combination of electric driving in everyday life and range flexibility ensured by the combustion engine. The demand for PHEVs contributes to fleet modernization and CO2 emission reductions.

auto-schweiz Demands the Abolition of the Four Percent Import Duty

After eleven months, it is clear: without additional political and regulatory impulses, the goal of a market-based increase in electromobility will be unreachable. The tightened CO2 targets remain unreachable with a plug-in share of about a third, with significant consequences for importers and increased mobility costs for consumers and businesses. Peter Grünenfelder, President of auto-schweiz, states: 'Switzerland is holding itself back. It cannot be that the EU, often perceived as cumbersome, seems more able to learn than we are.' Now is the time for more business-friendly conditions so that consumers and SMEs invest in new, lower-emission vehicles. Grünenfelder demands: 'This specifically means a flexibilization of CO2 regulations, a policy without sanctions, no new e-taxes, and the abolition of the four percent import duty.'

Detailed figures by brand are available at www.auto.swiss. The evaluations by auto-schweiz are based on federal surveys, and the data may be preliminary and not final.

Press Contact:
Frank Keidel
Media Spokesperson
T +41 76 399 69 06
frank.keidel@auto.swiss

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