Given the high increase in prices for new cars, many consumers turn to the second-hand market. And this increase in demand has caused a rise in prices. Hence, buying a second-hand vehicle is now more expensive than a year ago, something that has also had an impact on 100% electric vehicles, cars that have a higher starting cost than those equipped with propulsion engines.
Thus, according to the data collected by the National Association of Vehicle Sellers (Ganvam) and coches.net in the Electricar VO report, the average price of these zero-emission units during the first quarter of 2023 stood at 35,876 euros, which is that is, 12.8% more in interannual terms. The Basque Country is the autonomous community with the highest average price (43,263 euros), while Galicia is at the other end of the scale, with an average of 30,486 euros.
This increase in cost has weighed on sales of electric cars, which fell by 13% during the aforementioned period. The study indicates that second-hand electric cars less than a year old are those that have registered the greatest commercial drop between January 1 and March 31 (-35%), followed by those up to three years old (-21 %). On the contrary, second-hand electric operations between three and five years old have risen 50% in the first quarter of the course compared to the same period in 2022.
Likewise, the analysis indicates that consumer interest in second-hand electric vehicles has fallen by 37% during the first three months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
“Behind this significant decline both in total vehicle sales and in online demand, is the high average price of the used electric car, which is, on average, more than 60% more expensive than the combustion car and exceeds the power purchasing power of a large part of the families”, have assessed the entities in charge of the report, which have also pointed out as the cause the “uncertainty and lack of regulatory clarity” about the future of cars with combustion engines.
In this context, both Ganvam and coches.net request that “the Moves Plan (dedicated to encouraging the purchase of electric cars) supports used electric cars for up to 36 months in order to reduce the acquisition barrier and boost demand.” In this way, electric would become a more accessible option and would help to rejuvenate and electrify the car park.
Regarding the best-selling electric models in the second-hand market in Spain, the Renault Zoe continues “at the top of the podium”, with 369 units sold during the first quarter of 2023 (28% less in year-on-year terms), They are followed by the Smart ForTwo (248 units; -20%), the BMW i3 (179 units; -16%), the Fiat 500e (178 units; 110%) and the Nissan Leaf (162 units; -10%).
