2' min read
2' min read
The semiconductor crisis had suddenly made them more attractive, given the scarcity of new cars available in recent years. But even now that the production hiccups have passed, used cars still continue to attract great interest. And some news also comes from the electric used car, which is also a sensitive topic for fleet managers.
Much of the residual value of electric cars depends on their condition and battery performance. Although not comparable to the higher values of petrol- and diesel-powered models, something is moving in this sector too, and electric vehicles are starting to make their way onto the second-hand market. In 2023, the used car wholesaling platform Auto1.com claims to have marketed around 17,000 electric vehicles in Europe, accounting for 3.2 per cent of total transactions. Thirty-five per cent of European dealers on the portal have sold at least one, and by 2024 the share will rise to 44 per cent.
Between 2021 and 2022, the used car market benefited from longer delivery times for new cars, which averaged 161 days. That was too long for private individuals and companies, which had already turned to second-hand cars to make up for the lack of new models. Today the push towards second-hand cars has lessened somewhat, but second-hand cars continue to be considered strategic. "Things have changed a bit," confirm the car rental operators' association Aniasa, "but the value of second-hand cars is growing steadily, because by now they have a quality that is increasingly similar to that of new cars. According to the latest report on company fleets compiled by the Arval Mobility Observatory, almost 80% of companies in 30 European and non-European countries said they might integrate used vehicles into their fleets in the next three years.
This is a figure that had not been considered in previous editions of the study. It is therefore not possible to make comparisons to frame the phenomenon. 'However, we did not expect such high findings,' admit the Bnp Paribas Group company. It should be pointed out that we are talking about 'fresh' and thoroughly inspected cars, which companies take into consideration as a useful wild card for all eventualities, especially for car pooling: fleets that have used cars or are thinking of integrating them, employ them in 88% of cases precisely for pool use.
