Study: Price Discounts on Electric Cars Remain Behind Those of Internal Combustion Engines

Image: Opel (illustrative)

A study by Center Automotive Research (CAR) shows that discounts on electric vehicles are smaller compared to conventional gasoline and diesel engines.

The analysis found an average price reduction of 16.3 percent of the list price for electric cars in October. In contrast, discounts on internal combustion engines were 19.6 percent, and those on plug-in hybrids were 20.3 percent. While dealers offered more generous deals on vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines recently, discounts in the electric vehicle segment have declined.

According to analysts, the average price difference between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine cars has risen to over 2900 euros. In December 2025, this gap was still 1328 euros.

The data are based on the list prices of the 25 best-selling models in each category, with vehicle groups varying in size and features. The government’s purchase subsidy of up to 6000 euros is not uniformly included in these calculations.

Study leader Ferdinand Dudenhöffer attributes the increased fuel prices to a key reason for reduced discount pressure. “High fuel costs create room for slightly higher prices on electric vehicles,” says the industry expert. Manufacturers could use part of the growing demand to offer less generous deals.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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