One in 20 opts for EV as used car market sees best Q3 since pandemic

Transactions for used electric cars rose by just over 23 per cent in the third quarter of the year as the market saw its best Q3 since before the pandemic.

New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that a total of 2,030,619 vehicles changed hands in the third quarter of the year, representing the strongest performance since 2021. Year to date, the market has risen by 0.3 per cent, too.

Strong demand for electric vehicles has helped drive the increase, with transactions for EVs rising by 23.2 per cent to 97,625 units in the third quarter of the year. Year-to-date, used battery electric vehicle transactions have risen by 39.6 per cent to 295,524 units.

Hybrid sales were also up, rising by 25.9 per cent in Q3, while those for plug-in hybrids fell by 13.3 per cent. Petrol, however, remained the most popular fuel of all with 1,148,576 cars selling during the same period. Diesel, by contrast, fell 5.3 per cent.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Another quarter of growth means Britain’s used car market remains on course for its best year since the Covid-19 pandemic. Long-term investment in new models is broadening choice for used car buyers, while growth in new EVs is driving a surge in second-hand uptake.

“To sustain this progress and make zero-emission mobility possible for all motorists, the new car market must remain strong, underpinned by measures that boost EV demand – including affordable and widely accessible charging infrastructure and compelling fiscal incentives.”