Strongest start to year for used car sales since 2019, says trade body
The 6.5% increase in the first quarter marked 16 months of successive growth.
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The used car market increased by 6.5% in the first quarter of the year, with sales of over 1.9 million vehicles, new figures show.
The total reveals the strongest start to a year since pre-pandemic 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The increase marks 16 months of successive growth, which the SMMT said reflects recovering supply in the new car market which is in turn improving availability and choice of second-hand vehicles.
Increasing numbers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are now entering the used sector, with sales in recent months up by more than two-thirds to 41,505, the figures revealed.
A reinvigorated new car market is delivering more choice and affordability for used car buyers and, increasingly, they are choosing to go electric
Sales of used hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids also increased.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “A reinvigorated new car market is delivering more choice and affordability for used car buyers and, increasingly, they are choosing to go electric.
“To enable even more drivers to enjoy the benefits of zero-emission motoring, ensuring both supply and demand remains robust is essential.
“Incentivising new EV uptake and investing in a chargepoint network that is accessible, available and affordable to all will drive the nation’s net-zero transition.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.