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Used cars in Europe are seeing varying trends in sales, with some powertrains selling faster than others. According to recent data, hybrids, including full (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), are leading the pack in terms of fastest selling times across many markets.
In Germany, PHEVs sold the fastest at an average of 54.7 days, while battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) took a bit longer to find new owners, with an average of 60.6 days [1]. This trend is a stark contrast to the UK, where BEVs were the fastest-selling powertrain [2].
Rapid technological development means used BEVs are ageing more quickly as consumers compare their capabilities with newer, more advanced models. However, higher upfront costs, depreciation uncertainties, limited consumer familiarity with used BEVs, and infrastructure or range anxiety concerns continue to influence buyer confidence, causing BEVs to take longer to sell compared to other powertrains [1][2].
In France, BEVs appear to be stagnating, as brands are pushed by governments to sell more new all-electric models. This has resulted in a crowded used-BEV market with too few buyers, causing residual values (RVs) to drop [1]. In fact, BEVs recorded the lowest amount of trade value in January at 44.1%, followed by PHEVs at 46.8% [3].
The situation is similar in Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, where BEVs took the longest time to sell [1]. In France, BEVs not only spent the longest amount of time in stock but also recorded the lowest RVs [1].
On the other hand, hybrids, particularly HEVs, are seeing a different trend. In Italy, HEVs saw the greatest drop in RVs compared to February, falling from 53.3% to 51.8% [1]. In France, HEVs retained the greatest amount of trade value in January at 52.5%, followed by petrol cars at 50%. Diesel models came third with 47.9%, and PHEVs fourth with 46.8% [3].
Diesel cars are also seeing a resurgence in some markets, such as France, where diesel cars continued to see their value-retention rates increase [3]. In Switzerland, diesel cars sold fastest at 69.9 days, followed by HEVs at 71.9 days and petrol models at 77.7 days [1].
The UK, however, is the major exception to this trend, where BEVs are the fastest-selling powertrain [2]. In the UK, it took an average of 5.6 fewer days to sell a used car in March than in February, with BEVs remaining the fastest-selling powertrain at just 35.8 days [2].
The growth of Spain's used-car market is also noteworthy, with the SVI increasing by 6.1% month on month [4]. In contrast, the Italian market saw a significant increase in the SVI for HEVs, with the average number of days needed to sell a HEV falling by 3.9 days [4].
In Switzerland, %RVs of 36-month-old cars at 60,000km dropped in March, with an average of 44.1% [1]. In Austria, the average time needed to sell a used car decreased significantly in March, around six days faster than in February [4].
However, a lack of charging infrastructure development and deployment is also holding potential buyers back in many markets [1]. This issue, combined with concerns about limited charging points and driving range, affects buyer willingness in used-car segments more than new-car segments [2].
References:
[1] European Used Car Market Trends (2025) - [Source]
[2] UK Used Car Market Trends (2025) - [Source]
[3] French Used Car Market Trends (2025) - [Source]
[4] Italian, Spanish, and Swiss Used Car Market Trends (2025) - [Source]
- The rapid selling times of hybrids, such as HEVs and PHEVs, have been noticeable in many European markets, notably Germany and Italy.
- In contrast to the fast-paced sale of hybrids, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are taking longer to find new owners in France and various other European countries.
- Despite the technological advancements in BEVs, higher upfront costs, uncertainties in depreciation, limited consumer familiarity, and range anxiety concerns continue to affect buying decisions and selling times of BEVs.
- The situation in the UK presents a stark contrast, with BEVs being the fastest-selling powertrain compared to other European markets.
- In several European countries, the resurgence of diesel cars is evident, as diesel vehicles are retaining their value more effectively, particularly in France and Switzerland.
