Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany

Nazlı Gamze Özel

doi:10.52642/susbed.1778632

EN TR

Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany

Abstract

This study analyzes the long-term relationship between sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Germany from January 2016 to March 2025 and consumer interest measured using Google Trends data. To this end, eight German search terms related to electric vehicles were selected and a single composite search interest index was created using Principal Component Analysis. Subsequently, unit root tests with structural breaks and multiple break cointegration tests were conducted. The findings can be summarized under three headings. First, the evidence reveals that search interest exhibits a significant long-term co-movement with both battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales. In particular, structural breaks were identified in the post-2020 period, coinciding with incentive mechanisms, energy crises, and policy changes. Second, the results indicate that the relationship varies in sensitivity across segments. Third, by demonstrating that Google Trends data serves as a leading indicator for tracking consumer interest in the electric vehicle market, the study shows that responses to policy and market shocks are reflected simultaneously in both digital interest and sales. These findings provide actionable insights for early signal generation and demand tracking in marketing strategies and public policies.

Keywords

Electric Vehicle, Google Trends, Consumer Search Interest, Structural Breaks, Cointegration, Battery Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle

Google Trends Arama İlgisi Elektrikli Araç Satışlarını Yansıtıyor mu? Almanya’dan Kanıtlar

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Almanya’da Ocak 2016–Mart 2025 döneminde bataryalı elektrikli araç ve şarj edilebilir hibrit araç satışları ile Google Trends verilerinden ölçülen tüketici ilgisi arasındaki uzun dönemli ilişkiyi analiz etmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, sekiz elektrikli araç odaklı Almanca anahtar kelime seçilmiş ve Temel Bileşenler Analizi ile tek bir bileşik arama ilgisi indeksi oluşturulmuştur. Ardından, yapısal kırılmalı birim kök ve çoklu kırılmalı eşbütünleşme testleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular üç ana noktada sıralanabilir. Birincisi, elde edilen sonuçlar, arama ilgisinin hem bataryalı elektrikli araç hem de şarj edilebilir hibrit araç satışlarıyla uzun dönemli anlamlı bir eş hareketlilik sergilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle 2020 sonrası dönemde, teşvik mekanizmaları, enerji krizleri ve politika değişiklikleri ile örtüşen yapısal kırılmalar tespit edilmiştir. İkincisi, ilişkinin segmentler arasında duyarlılık bakımından farklılaştığına dair kanıtlar elde edilmiştir. Üçüncüsü, Google Trends verisinin elektrikli araç pazarında tüketici ilgisini izlemek için stratejik bir öncü gösterge olduğu ortaya koyularak, politika ile piyasa şoklarına verilen tepkilerin hem dijital ilgiye hem de satışlara eş zamanlı olarak yansıdığı gösterilmektedir. Bu bulgular, pazarlama stratejileri ve kamu politikaları için erken sinyal üretimi ve talep izlemede uygulanabilir içgörüler sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

Elektrikli Araç, Google Trends, Tüketici Arama İlgisi, Yapısal Kırılmalar, Eşbütünleşme, Bataryalı Elektrikli Araç, Şarj Edilebilir Hibrit Araç

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Digital Marketing

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Research Article

Authors

Nazlı Gamze Özel ^*
0000-0001-6252-2857
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 30, 2025

Submission Date

September 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 3, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 58

DOI

https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1778632

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA99BR43JF

APA

Özel, N. G. (2025). Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 58, 259-277. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1778632

AMA

1.Özel NG. Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany. SUSBED. 2025;(58):259-277. doi:10.52642/susbed.1778632

Chicago

Özel, Nazlı Gamze. 2025. “Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, nos. 58: 259-77. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1778632.

EndNote

Özel NG (December 1, 2025) Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 58 259–277.

IEEE

[1]N. G. Özel, “Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany”, SUSBED, no. 58, pp. 259–277, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.52642/susbed.1778632.

ISNAD

Özel, Nazlı Gamze. “Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 58 (December 1, 2025): 259-277. https://doi.org/10.52642/susbed.1778632.

JAMA

1.Özel NG. Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany. SUSBED. 2025;:259–277.

MLA

Özel, Nazlı Gamze. “Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, no. 58, Dec. 2025, pp. 259-77, doi:10.52642/susbed.1778632.

Vancouver

1.Nazlı Gamze Özel. Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany. SUSBED. 2025 Dec. 1;(58):259-77. doi:10.52642/susbed.1778632

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Does Google Trends Search Interest Reflect Electric Vehicle Sales? Evidence from Germany

Abstract

Keywords

Google Trends Arama İlgisi Elektrikli Araç Satışlarını Yansıtıyor mu? Almanya’dan Kanıtlar

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

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