Car companies sold 11 percent more used passenger cars last month than in the same month last year. In May, a total of 123,629 used cars were sold. This brings the total sale of used cars in the first five months of this year to 561,100 units. That is also 11 percent more than in the same period last year and is also the largest number ever.
More and more electric cars are entering the second-hand market. In the first five months of this year, car companies sold 11,143 used electric cars, a whopping 140 percent more than in the same period last year. Petrol-powered cars, of course, remain the most popular, accounting for 80 percent of used car sales in the first five months of this year. 450,314 used ‘petrol cars’ have already been sold this year and that is also a record. Cars with a diesel engine are losing popularity. 59,305 diesels were sold in the first five months of this year, 6 percent less than in the same period last year. Cars with hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrains are gaining ground on the second-hand market. The sales counter of used hybrids stands at 35,756 this year, 79 percent more than last year at this time.
More interesting figures: 65 percent of the used cars sold this year have a manual gearbox. 15 years ago, that percentage was still about 90 percent. Electric and hybrid cars generally do not have a manual gearbox, but the automatic transmission is also becoming more popular in cars with a petrol engine. Entirely in line with expectations, gray and black are again the most popular paint colors with a share of 34 and 26 percent respectively. Blue is losing popularity, whereas about 15 years ago about 25 percent of used used cars were blue, that share is now 13.5 percent. White, on the other hand, is gaining fans again with a share of 13.5 percent.