In brief, a few facts that we see as a positive development in Germany. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), more than 25,000 new electric vehicles were registered in Germany in 2017, more than twice as many as in previous years and more than ever before. Public charging points are also experiencing good growth. What pleases us as a Hamburg company is that the Hanseatic city clearly leads the German cities with the number of accessible charging points (774 as of 2017) and surpasses the city of Berlin in second place by more than 100. Stuttgart and Müncheln are in third place, but to their credit, Bavaria and Baden-Würtemberg are among the top three states in this statistic. The major cities – with Munich and Hamburg leading the way – are also increasingly relying on electric buses for local public transport. The electric truck sector is also improving – at least as far as regional supply is concerned, these represent a real alternative to conventional drives. Even in the agricultural industry, things are changing; the well-known tractor manufacturer Fendt, for example, is also focusing on electric drive.
The proportion of e-vehicles in Germany is still less than one per mille, but the trend is clear. We are pleased to be part of this development and to contribute with our company.