FLENSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Fewer and fewer convertibles are being sold in Germany. In 2025, only 33,924 units were registered, according to figures from the Federal Motor Transport Authority. That is a 17 percent drop compared to 2024—and even that previous figure was already a long-standing low. Currently, only one in every 84 new cars sold in Germany is a convertible.
Looking back further, the decline in enthusiasm for convertibles becomes even more apparent: in the past decade, more than twice as many vehicles of this type were registered each year, and in 2009, the number even reached 102,938—three times as many as today.
Changing Lifestyles and Competition from SUVs
One factor behind the decline is likely a shift in lifestyle. Furthermore, the concept of freedom—once a driving force for the convertible market—has in part been taken over by SUVs, which have massively increased their market share in recent years.
At the same time, the range of available models has also shrunk significantly. Many brands no longer offer convertibles at all, while others have just one or two models left. The best-selling convertible in Germany in 2025 was the VW T-Roc, with 8,179 units sold.
That was enough to make Volkswagen the clear leader in the German convertible market by brand as well. BMW ranked second with 6,499 units, followed by Mercedes with 4,951, Porsche with 4,946, and Mini with 4,926. These five brands alone account for nearly 87 percent of all convertible sales.
Still Nearly 2.2 Million on the Road
Despite the years-long decline in new registrations, there are still nearly 2.2 million convertibles on German roads. This is partly because many are lovingly maintained by their owners as classic cars. The figure is from January 1, 2025; more recent numbers are not yet available. However, the total is slowly but surely shrinking due to a lack of new supply: as of January 1, 2024, there were about 24,000 more convertibles on the road.
Convertibles are especially common in the Upper Bavarian district of Starnberg, where they make up 8.6 percent of all registered vehicles. Next are the Hochtaunuskreis and Bad Dürkheim districts, each with 7.0 percent. Even in these strongholds, however, the share has declined over the past year./ruc/DP/zb
