Market normalization for pre-owned electric vehicles persists on AutoScout24.de
The used car market in 2025 is showing relative stability and even some growth compared to the declining new car market. This divergence is attributed to several factors, including economic pressures, supply chain constraints, and the digital transformation of the used car market.
Economic pressures such as inflation, high interest rates, and high new car prices are pushing buyers toward more affordable used vehicles. New car prices, on average, exceed $48,000 in the U.S., making used cars priced around $26,000 to $30,000 a more attractive option.
Supply chain constraints and production cost increases for new vehicles, especially those with advanced technology and EV components, limit new car availability and keep prices high. This situation further drives buyers to the used market.
The used car market is becoming more digital and transparent, with online platforms improving buyer access and confidence, aiding market dynamism. While some data indicate that used car prices are starting to fall slightly in mid-2025, reflecting a trend toward normalization as supply in both markets improves, used cars still sell faster than in recent years, demonstrating sustained demand.
New car prices face pressure from inventory increases and changes in consumer preferences, contributing to market softness and a decline in new vehicle sales. There is a notable impact of EV and hybrid vehicles on both markets. EV used car values have been gradually declining, whereas internal combustion engine vehicles used values remain more stable but could depreciate more as EV adoption grows.
Analysts expect used vehicle market stability or normalization in late 2025 as trade-ins increase with improving new vehicle sales, balancing supply and demand dynamics.
In the used car market, the demand saw a slight increase of 1% in June 2025. It took an average of 55 days from ad creation to sale, one day more than the previous year. The supply of older, cheaper vehicles is growing, and production shortfalls from 2020 to 2022 continue to impact the used car market, particularly in the two to five-year-old vehicle segment. Inventory levels remained around a quarter below the pre-COVID-19 level of 2019.
The average price for used electric vehicles in June 2025 was 34,804 euros, around 25% higher than the average across all powertrain types. The overall electric vehicle average price stabilized due to a shift towards higher-priced models in the used electric vehicle market.
Dealers posted around 2% more ads on AutoScout24 in Q2 2025, with a 3% increase in June compared to the previous year. Approximately 1.6 million vehicles changed hands in Q2 2025, a 1% drop in June compared to the previous year. The absence of manufacturer campaigns and some market uncertainty is slowing demand in the leasing market, with leasing demand easing after a strong first quarter in the new car market.
In the new car market, registrations saw a 5% decline in Q2 2025 compared to the previous year, with a 14% drop in June. The Renault ZOE, Tesla Model 3, and Audi Q4 e-tron have experienced price declines of 11%, 16%, and 18% respectively in the used electric vehicle market.
In conclusion, the used car market is benefiting from economic and supply factors that depress new car sales, resulting in greater affordability and demand for used cars. However, partially falling used car prices toward mid-2025 suggest this growth is leveling off as market conditions normalize. Meanwhile, new cars face a decline due to high prices, inventory shifts, and evolving consumer preferences toward used or EVs.
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- Economic pressures have influenced buyers to opt for used vehicles over new ones, as high new car prices, inflation, and high interest rates create affordability concerns.
- One factor contributing to the growth of the used car market is the increasing production costs and supply chain constraints for electric vehicles and cars with advanced technology, making new cars less accessible.
- The digital transformation of the used car market is increasing transparency and improving access, leading to market dynamism, despite a slight drop in used car prices as supply improves.
- Stability or normalization is expected in the used vehicle market by late 2025, as improving new vehicle sales yield increased trade-ins, balancing supply and demand.
- In the used car market, there has been a slight increase in demand for vehicles and a longer average time from ad creation to sale compared to the previous year, while inventory levels remain below the pre-pandemic levels.
- Used electric vehicles have higher average prices compared to their counterparts with various powertrain types, due to the shift towards higher-priced models, although the overall average price has remained stable.
