Electric Vehicles Struggle in Used Car Market
AutoTrader’s recent analysis has unveiled the slowest-selling second-hand cars in the UK, with a surprising revelation: three fully electric vehicles (EVs) have made it into the top 10. The Fiat 500e, Volkswagen ID.3, and Volkswagen ID.5 have proven to be particularly challenging for owners to sell, with each model taking approximately three months to find new buyers.
This data raises concerns about the transition to electric vehicles in the UK, as Plug-in hybrid vehicles also occupied three positions in the top 10 list. In contrast, only one EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, managed to secure a spot on AutoTrader’s top 10 fastest-selling cars, ranking fifth.
BMW Dominates Slowest-Selling List
A traditional petrol combustion car, the BMW M2 Coupe, emerged as the overall slowest-selling used car. Models up to one year old have experienced particularly sluggish sales, taking an astonishing 104 days to secure new owners. This is almost nine times longer than the fastest-selling Peugeot 208, which typically gets snapped up in just 11 days.
BMW had another vehicle in the top 10, with the 2 Series Active Tourer Petrol Plug-In Hybrid ranking fourth with an average sale time of 89 days. The Volkswagen ID.5 SUV and Audi Q5 Petrol Plug-In Hybrid also faced slow sales, taking 84 and 80 days respectively to sell.
Other Notable Slow Sellers
Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport, MG HS SUV Plug-In Hybrid, Ford Mondeo Hatchback, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class rounded out the top 10 slowest-selling used cars. Their average sale times ranged from 70 to 79 days.
Market Trends
AutoTrader’s data reflects a wider trend in the used car market, with petrol models currently selling faster than any other fuel type, averaging around 27 days. Hybrids have experienced a decline in their average speed of sale from 26 to 29 days, while diesel vehicles also take around 29 days to find new owners. EVs have seen a slight improvement, with an average sale time of 29 days, which is up from the 31-day average recorded in April.
This information serves as a valuable insight into the dynamics of the second-hand car market, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for different vehicle types and fuel sources.
