Import occasions 2020 lags behind

Measures around corona have significantly slowed the import of used cars this year. Up to and including November 194,932 used cars from abroad were registered on a Dutch license plate, a minus of 7.2 percent, according to figures from Bovag.

2020 is fast becoming a record year for used cars, but that is not thanks to the import of used cars. Up to and including November 194,932 used cars were brought to our country, 7.2 percent less than the same period last year. According to Bovag, it is mainly the corona measures that cut off the influx in the first half of the year, with almost 90 percent less in April. In March, the RDW inspection stations were closed for several weeks, so that the supply of import occasions also came to a standstill. That month therefore ended with -55 percent, in May it was almost 60 percent less than the same month of 2019. In the meantime, it has picked up again, with a plus of 8 percent last month.

79.3 percent of the imported used cars was petrol, 12.2 percent diesel and just under 2 percent electric. It shows that gasoline is gaining ground compared to diesel, while the number of imported EVs with a previous life has doubled.

Second-hand imports are of great importance to the Dutch car industry, says Bovag. In this way, stocks are maintained so that the buyer has sufficient choice. Without imports, there would be a mismatch between supply and demand, says the trade association. Petrol cars with low mileage are particularly popular. With around two million transactions per year (specialist trade and private sales added), the used car trade is six times the size of the market for new passenger cars.

These are the most imported passenger cars of 2020 (until November):

Imported EVs in 2020 (until November):