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Autumn has arrived, and with it comes fresh data on the used cars Ukrainians were choosing in September. The picture is interesting: the overall used car market remains stable, but within it, the changes that everyone is talking about are already visible. Used car sales remained virtually unchanged compared to August, at around 78,000 units. However, against this calm backdrop, a surge in interest in used electric vehicles is becoming increasingly noticeable. It seems the approaching end of the year and the end of customs exemptions for electric cars are forcing many buyers to hurry and make their choice while they still have the best deals.
In terms of numbers, nearly ten thousand Ukrainians decided to buy a used electric car in September. This is a significant sign of changing preferences. Most of these cars found new owners almost immediately after customs clearance. As for the familiar brands, everything is predictable so far: Volkswagen retains its title as the most popular by a wide margin. But a real battle has unfolded for second place and beyond between Audi, Renault, BMW, and Nissan—the difference in their sales amounts to literally several hundred, if not dozens, of vehicles.
It's also interesting to look at which specific models were in the greatest demand. In September, the Skoda Octavia took the top spot in the model rankings, overtaking the perennial favorite, the Volkswagen Passat. But that wasn't the main intrigue. A total of three electric vehicles stormed to the top of the sales charts, a previously rare occurrence. The Tesla Model Y, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model 3 posted some of the highest sales growth. Compared to them, even the strong performance of some gasoline-powered crossovers, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan or Audi Q5, looked less impressive. Meanwhile, some tried-and-true models, such as the BMW 5 Series and Ford Focus, unexpectedly lost ground.
In general, it's clear that the market is gradually but surely changing. While most buyers remain loyal to their familiar brands and models, the "electric car craze" is slowly spreading from the new to the used car market. And this trend is likely to intensify by the end of the year. Many resellers and dealers are already increasing their inventory of electric vehicles, anticipating the rush to buy. The only danger here is that such a surge in interest could lead to a significant price increase, which is unlikely to please end buyers. So for those who have been eyeing an electric car for a while, now may be the perfect time to buy.