Electric vehicles represented only 2% of used car sales in the first quarter of 2024, far from the behavior of this segment in the new market, according to a first barometer published this Friday by the sector.
Of a total of 1.3 million used vehicle transactions at the beginning of 2024, nearly 29,000 electric cars were sold to individuals or companies, details the study by the National Association for the Development of Electric Mobility (Avere) and the Mobilians employer’s association. A contrast with the new market, where fully electric vehicles represented 17.6% of vehicle sales for individuals at the beginning of 2024, according to the Automobile Platform (PFA).
“The volumes of used electric vehicles remain incomparable with the European objectives of 2035”, the deadline for sales of new thermal cars, recognizes Xavier Horent, general delegate of Mobilians. However, “the democratization of electric vehicles requires the dynamics of the second-hand market,” which is three times larger than that of new ones, says the Mobilians-Avere barometer.
Despite “the trends altered by the European 2035 debate”, “the second-hand market is very far from stabilizing” and will continue to progress, in particular with the arrival of new generations at “much more accessible prices”, continues Xavier Horent . Especially since the emergence of the electricity sector in France dates back to 2020, which explains an average age of 2.1 years of the fleet studied.
Electrical leasing increasingly popular
The new models, especially Chinese, will be able to dethrone the Renault Zoé, the Peugeot e-208 and the Tesla Model 3, which dominated the second-hand market at the beginning of 2024, according to the study. Almost a third of the 29,000 vehicles were acquired in the first quarter through electric leasing, a proportion that has doubled in six years, thanks to the “social leasing” operation at 100 euros per month implemented in January.
The study also confirms an over-representation of automotive professionals in these transactions (78%), while the second-hand market for all engines is usually dominated by individuals. “The technology is so incipient that customers look for peace of mind in professionals,” with many questions about batteries or the longevity of vehicles, explains Xavier Horent.
Another observation: buyers of used electric cars are proportionally more present in rural areas (29% of registrations in 2024 compared to 27% in urban areas)
Source: BFM TV
