Fuel Type: Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Launch Report: MG4 proves budget BEVs can work in Europe’s growing market

When MG returned to Europe’s automotive market, it was not the marque of old. Instead, this was a new brand, owned by Chinese carmaker SAIC, that took aim at the neglected budget end of the sector.

The electrification of the industry presented MG with an opportunity, and the MG4 is its latest offering. The medium-sized battery-electric vehicle (BEV) appeals with its styling, practicality, and price.

Autovista Group experts from Austria, France, Italy, and the UK analysed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in their respective markets, benchmarking the MG4 against rivals and outlining both new-price points and forecast residual values (RVs). Click on the image below to view their insights in the latest dashboard.

Click here to open the interactive dashboard

Styling beyond the price

From the outside, the MG4 does not look like a budget BEV. It utilises the unique design aesthetics of electric vehicles (EVs) perfectly. The grill-free front end provides an angular point that emphasises a dynamic style while also acting as an aerodynamic influence. The front bumper sweeps out to two side grills, housing fog lights in premium versions, with a design reminiscent of the nose on a 2000’s-era Formula 1 car.

At the rear, the light bar extends beyond the vehicle hatchback, providing a boat-like deck that allows better visibility for the LED lighting, with an angular rear cluster wrapped around the side of the vehicle. The C-pillar is offered in gloss black, creating a floating roofline that flows across the top of the car when viewed from the side.

This side profile is let down a little by the lack of styling, with plastic sills and minimal body lines, while the wheels are lost within the large arches. However, its design still offers an impressive stance, well beyond its price point.

Comfortable and practical

Taking to the interior, the MG4 offers its occupants comfort, even on longer journeys. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen is a big improvement on earlier MG models, although it is not as refined as those offered by its competitors, and at times requires more pressure on the touchscreen. Most of the vehicle’s controls are housed in this system, with few physical buttons.

Another screen ‘floats’ behind the steering wheel, providing speed information, battery data as well as regenerative systems, and turn-by-turn navigation (an optional extra). Controls on the wheel itself allow for infotainment control. Meanwhile, taller drivers will benefit from the flat-bottom design.

The dashboard styling is futuristic, with a floating centre console offering the drive controls alongside the electronic parking brake. There is also a phone-storage space, with cable or wireless charging available in some options. There is plenty of storage for front passengers, with a cubby in the lower part of the console, as well as within the armrest.

Practicality continues to the rear, where a 363-litre boot can easily swallow up a couple of suitcases. Top-spec versions get a false floor, which is handy for EV-cable storage, especially as the MG4 does not feature a ‘frunk’.

The materials used in the interior may be cheaper than those of premium rivals and could be more prone to marks. However, it is not particularly noticeable and is overall a pleasant environment for both the driver and passengers.

Handling against its competition

MG has opted for rear-wheel drive with the MG4, and the battery arrangement gives a good centre of gravity. This means the car is very stable, with no rocking under acceleration and braking.

There is slight roll in the corners, but it is not dramatic and easy to get used to, while the softer suspension soaks up bumps. The MG4’s steering responds quickly, with the placement of electric motors in the rear providing a short turning circle, which makes light work of city streets.

The MG4 can cover around 450km on a single charge (according to WLTP figures), which is competitive against its more-expensive rivals. While the EV market is developing, and concerns remain about the price of BEVs compared to petrol and diesel vehicles, MG is proving that budget-electric motoring is not just possible, but practical and fun as well.

View the Autovista Group dashboard, which benchmarks the new MG4 in Austria, France, Italy, and the UK for more details. The interactive launch report presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

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BEV residual values struggle in UK used-car market

Jayson Whittington, head of valuations in the UK for Glass’s (part of Autovista Group) discusses how residual values (RVs) have developed in the UK so far in 2023.

Demand for used cars has not dampened in the UK, despite consumers experiencing significant financial pressures due to the rising cost of living. Retail activity in the first quarter of 2023 was buoyant, which in turn led to busy wholesale channels as dealers sought to replenish stock more frequently.

At auction houses, demand outstripped supply throughout March, which led to Glass’s average RV for a three-year-old car to increase by 1.4% in April, according to Autovista Group’s monthly market dashboard. A year-on-year comparison shows that RVs have increased by 5%.

There was a difference in fuel types when it came to RVs in April however. Petrol cars experienced a greater increase of 2%, while diesel values rose by 0.7% and hybrid models grew by 2%. Only plug-in vehicles bucked this upward trend, with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) falling by 0.1% and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) falling 9.7%. BEVs now sit 14.1% lower than they did in April 2022.

The chart below shows the development of residual values as a percentage of retained list price (%RV) since January 2021, split by fuel type. All RVs rose significantly as the market began to experience strong retail conditions coupled with reduced used-car supply throughout 2021. This was the result of severe delays in new-car production caused by COVID-19-related labour and component disruption, which saw fewer used cars enter the market due to contract extensions and a smaller number of part exchanges.

%RVs of 36-month-old cars by fuel type, January 2021 to April 2023

BEVs struggle on used-car market

It appears the used-car market began to correct downwards from the second quarter of last year but recovered again as supply eased once more. Except for BEV models, values have been relatively stable ever since. While BEV values have fallen sharply since the final quarter of 2022, the average RV remains higher than in January 2021, due to the upward trajectory experienced throughout 2021 and 2022, thanks to high demand and poor supply.

Hybrid models continue to outperform all other fuel types, retaining a greater percentage of original cost price at three years of age. At 72.7%, values are a staggering 25 percentage points higher on average than BEV models, which are currently performing the worst. Although, for context, the difference is only £391 (€450), in favour of BEVs, and perhaps that underlines a part of the issue.

BEVs are far more expensive to buy when new than other fuel types. However, the used buyer is not prepared to pay a large premium for a vehicle that offers few benefits over internal-combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid alternatives, plus they are no longer in short supply.

There remains very good retail demand for used BEVs, demonstrated by Autovista’s sales-volume index which measures the level of retail sales. It shows a massive sales increase of 276% compared to April last year. However, demand is failing to keep pace with the huge increase in supply.

Selling BEVs takes dealers longer

The average number of days it took a dealer to sell a used car reduced in April, falling 1.8 days to 38 days. This was almost two weeks less than 12 months ago, underlining just how buoyant retail activity has been. PHEVs and BEVs took much longer for dealers to sell at 49 and 53 days respectively, with hybrids taking 40 days, diesel 39 days and petrol leading the way at just 36 days.

The length of time it takes to retail a BEV will be a concern to dealers. At 53 days, that is 15 longer than the average, which brings with it an additional potential risk in the form of two costly book drops. It is therefore easy to understand why dealers have become cautious and auction hammer prices have been in decline. It is likely that rather than keep BEVs in stock, dealers will wait for a commitment from consumers before buying from wholesale channels, especially as there is no shortage of BEVs on offer.

Changing expectations

At the beginning of the year, Glass’s expected the rising cost of living and further planned increases in energy costs to have a negative impact on used-car sales and RVs by year-end. It was anticipated that RVs would decline by around 5%, following on from last year’s fall of 2.5%. Even with this fall, the value of used cars would remain high due to the approximately 30% rise in RVs in 2021.

However, with demand outstripping supply and no obvious increase in stock on the horizon, this expectation has changed, with values now anticipated to end the year in line with December 2022. There will of course be exceptions to this, in particular BEVs, where supply continues to outstrip demand and values remain volatile.

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Monthly Market Update: Pressure mounts on RVs as supply outweighs demand in March

In absolute terms, residual values (RVs) of three-year-old used cars rose year-on-year across European markets last month. While values represented as a retained percentage of the original list price (%RV) also grew, it was to a lesser extent across the board.

Austria saw the greatest increase in %RV at 13.6%, with Italy and Germany following closely behind, posting 11.4% and 10.7% respectively. Meanwhile, the UK was the outlier with a growth of just 0.5% in %RV terms compared to March 2022.

This was not the only instance where the UK went against a larger market trend. Alongside Italy, both countries saw demand outstrip supply. Other European markets experienced the reverse with a greater number of used-car adverts than sales, putting more pressure on RVs.

The %RV of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) increased across markets, except in the UK where a 9.6% decline was recorded. However, some carmakers recently lowered new-BEV prices to attract consumers outside the early-adopter sphere.

This will most heavily impact the absolute RVs of directly comparable used cars, including very-young used models, demonstrators, and rental vehicles. While older models will also be affected, it will take longer for this effect to cascade.

More broadly, the continual acceleration of electric vehicle (EV) technology means consumers of both new and used cars may hold out for longer as they wait for the latest technological developments and improved ranges. This could mean both lower supply and demand for the used-BEV market.

Click here to open the interactive dashboard

The interactive monthly market dashboard examines Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. It includes a breakdown of key performance indicators by fuel type, including RVs, new-car list prices, selling days, sales-volume and active market-volume indices.

Scenario analysis

The base-case scenario of low supply and falling demand comes with positives and negatives. If the economic situation in Europe continues to diminish, used-car prices will experience greater pressure as demand drops. Big improvements to supply would only serve to compound this effect.

For example, the automotive industry is still struggling with supply-chain constraints and semiconductor shortages remain. However, a sudden reversal caused by lower demand for consumer electronics could mean a faster solution for carmakers.

VNC Automotive pointed out that the ‘semiconductor drought could soon become a flood of chips.’ If that were the case then supply would likely increase while demand continues to drag, weighing down RVs.

Any increased disruption of new-car supply would benefit used-car prices. This could happen if automotive suppliers suffer from increased costs and economic difficulties. The possibility of the war in Ukraine escalating further also remains. This could damage Europe’s already fragile supply chains. RVs might also climb if there is an unexpected improvement in used-model demand. If new-car deliveries take a hit, more consumers might veer away from the market and buy used cars instead.

RV pressure expected in Austria

Living costs continue to rise in Austria and used-car transactions are slowing compared to 2022. The sales-volume index highlights the weakening demand with a 27.4% decline compared to March last year. Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) were hit hardest once again, suffering a 32.4% year-on-year drop.

Meanwhile, the supply of two-to-four-year-old passenger cars was 28% higher in March 2023 than a year earlier. Yet supply was lower in 2022 than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which started affecting the market at the beginning of 2020.

After a slow February, average days to sell decreased to a total of 68.5, confirming the weakening in used-car demand. HEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) sold the fastest, averaging around 48 days, followed by diesel cars with 67.8 days, then petrol models and BEVs with around 71.7 days.

‘Despite weakening demand and improving supply, residual values of 36-month-old cars have remained stable,’ explained Robert Madas, Eurotax (part of Autovista Group) regional head of valuations, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. ‘The %RV remained almost unchanged in March with cars retaining 55.4% on average. This marked a 13.6% year-on-year gain.’

HEVs currently have the highest %RV trade value at 60.2%, followed by petrol (55.8%), diesel (55.3%) and PHEVs (55.1%). Meanwhile, 36-month-old BEVs retained the lowest value at 52.2%. While supply recovers, demand is expected to weaken. Therefore, pressure on RVs can be expected. Prices of three-year-old cars will remain relatively high, with just a slightly decreasing trend.

‘The %RV is forecast to end 2023 approximately 2.6% down compared to December 2022. For the year 2024, %RV is expected to decrease further by around 3.4% year on year due to weakening demand and increasing supply,’ Madas added.

BEVs shaken in France

The used-car market was stable in France last month, with slightly lower absolute residual values but marginally higher values in %RV terms. Climbing prices have not influenced RVs as increases have been too steep in recent months.

Fewer private buyers purchased a used vehicle in March. Those who did focused on older models or a lower segment, mainly led by budget. Cars above the 12-year age bracket suffered the least, highlighting that consumers are not following list-price increases.

‘BEV residual values decreased in March. The market has been shaken by lower Tesla list prices, as the brand acts as a BEV reference point,’ said Ludovic Percier, Autovista Group residual value and market analyst for France. ‘Big list price decreases have been followed by drops in %RV, although this has been more severe in absolute terms. Some manufacturers are already following the trend and lowering prices to stay competitive.’

Compared to February, petrol followed the marginally declining market trend in March, while diesel was stable in list price and residual value terms. As new-car buyers have been switching from internal-combustion engine (ICE) models to other powertrains in recent years, used-car market availability is lower.

Despite the implementation of low-emission zones (ZFE) and the diesel’s blemished reputation, their RVs did not drop by much compared to February. ZFEs only impact cities with 150,000 inhabitants or more and does not affect drivers covering high mileages. However, from late 2024 and into 2025, diesel will be more heavily impacted.

‘Hybrid RVs remained stable with a very slight increase in absolute terms,’ Percier said. ‘PHEVs experienced an increase month on month, as there were a lower number of vehicles compared with February. There were also more premium models present on the used-car market, with higher ranges in full-electric mode. A major decrease is still expected in mid-2023.’

Market sensitivity in Germany

Looking back at new-vehicle registrations over the past six months from February, production capacity appears to be slowly recovering. Compared to the previous year, more than 200,000 additional units were registered, which was driven in no small part by the expiry or reduction of PHEV and BEV subsidies.

‘Tactical registrations are also picking up speed again, growing by 13% over the same period. At least 60% of this growth is due to electrified powertrains and foreshadows growing price pressure on the young-used-car market,’ said explained Andreas Geilenbruegge, head of valuations and insights at Schwacke (part of Autovista Group).

The consequences are already visible with stronger price corrections for PHEVs and BEVs, while registrations of ICE models are up slightly again. However, this should not obscure the fact that the total number is still well below the pre-COVID-19 level and will contribute to the stability of RVs in the long term.

‘Overall, offer prices across all ages and drive types remain high, but increasing stock days will encourage some sellers to lower prices,’ Geilenbruegge said. ‘The used-car market’s usually strong summer months are set to follow. Inexpensive mobility seems to be in particularly high demand, considering the continuous positive developments in the small and mini segment.’

In general, classic body types are doing better than their SUV counterparts thanks to their usually lower price. This highlights the market’s current sensitivity and level of consumer exhaustion in terms of purchasing power and willingness to buy.

Stability indicated in Italy

Last month’s new-car market sales volumes confirmed the recovery observed in January, with an increase of 18.4% compared to the first two months of 2022. However, the sales-volume index highlights that transactions on the used-car market are still not declining, with a growth of 1.4% compared to February, and even 25.7% compared to a year ago. In general, almost all fuel types are seeing sales up compared to February or are at least relatively stable.

‘The only exceptions are HEVs and PHEVs, down 10.3% and 5.4% month-on-month respectively. Meanwhile, CNG suffered the biggest drop at 56.4%. The fact that most manufacturers have abandoned this fuel type, alongside its rising cost per kilogramme, is certainly influencing this trend,’ commented Marco Pasquetti, head of valuations, Autovista Group Italy.

‘In %RV terms there was weak growth (up 0.3%), indicating a more stable situation. This is probably the prelude to a trend reversal that has not yet materialised, but which some remarketing professionals are beginning to detect and report,’ Pasquetti said.

From Q4 2022 onwards, however, the price has been falling sharply. This trend is likely to have a positive influence on %RVs, which currently stand at 44.3% compared to an average of 55.6%, down 4.4% compared to March 2022.

Breathing space for Spain

With more caution than optimism, the first quarter of 2023 gave Spain’s automotive sector a little breathing space. New-vehicle registrations were up 20% year on year in February. Although some of these deliveries come from orders placed in 2022, supply capacity has improved. This increase helps fulfil demand from fleet operators, enabling renewals and injecting young used vehicles into the market.

‘In this respect, used-vehicle transactions improved month on month and year on year. Although the overall variation is slight – up 3% in both cases – the age of these vehicles is significant. Sales of used models less than a year old and those between one- and three-years-old grew more than 20% and over 10% respectively,’ said Ana Azofra, Autovista Group head of valuations and insights, Spain.

‘This rejuvenation of supply is a relief to professionals who have capitalised on most of these sales. In any case, the market has quickly absorbed these young vehicles and the active supply of used models is again down by 20%, so the outlook remains optimistic,’ she added.

The month saw almost imperceptibly small negative adjustments to the transaction prices of petrol and diesel vehicles compared to February 2023. BEVs saw a slightly positive correction, more related to the change in the mix, with an increasing share of premium models featuring better performance.

The winners continue to be HEVs, with a growth of 2.3% compared to the previous month. Toyota led the ranking of models but this was not only among hybrids, where it is more logical to find them due to the weight of the brand, but also in the general ranking of all fuels. The five fastest-selling models in March were the Toyota RAV-4, Yaris, C-HR, Aygo and Citroën C4.

Meanwhile, the volume of used PHEVs on offer rose 75% compared to 2022. But they are not performing well in terms of turnover, with the number of days needed to sell increasing and transaction values showing a negative trend.

Transactions slow in Switzerland

The Swiss used-car market continued to see rising supply, with young used cars the only exception compared with the pre-COVID-19 period. The active-market volume index was 1.8% higher for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars in March compared to February, and 40.7% higher year on year.

‘With the rising costs of living, used-car transactions continued slowing compared to 2022,’ said Hans-Peter Annen, head of valuations and insights, Eurotax Switzerland (part of Autovista Group). ‘The sales-volume index remains on the growth path with a 4.2% increase compared to February, and a 3.2% increase year on year.’

As supply rose and demand sank slightly, the average value retention of 36-month-old passenger cars decreased to 51.3% in March, down 0.8% month on month, but still up 7.5% year on year.

HEVs posted a particularly strong year-on-year %RV gain of 20%, retaining 54.7% of their list price value. This was followed by petrol (52.1%), diesel (50%) and BEVs (49.4%). Meanwhile, 36-month-old PHEVs retained the lowest value, at 48.9% of their original list price.

The average days to sell remained unchanged in March, two-to-four-year-old passenger cars in stock for 76.5 days. HEVs sold the quickest, after an average of 66.7 days, followed by BEVs after 73.7 days and PHEVs at 75.2 days, then petrol and diesel cars after 76.5 and 77.4 days respectively.

‘Used-car demand is expected to weaken amid stable supply, a further decreasing trend is to be expected although values of three-year-old used cars remain relatively high,’ Annen said. ‘The %RV is forecast to finish 2023 around 3.1% down on December 2022. For 2024, RVs are expected to fall by around 3.7% year on year due to increasing supply and weakening demand.’

Mixed electric fortunes in UK

The UK’s used-car market was buoyant in March, with the number of days to sell falling by 4.8 days compared to February. At just 39.3 days, this was 15.9 fewer than last year. The sales-volume index confirms that strong retail demand was present, with 17.3% more cars sold compared to March 2022. At the same time, supply slowed, as confirmed by the active-market volume index which shows 25.1% fewer cars were available compared to March 2022.

‘As a result of increased demand and diminished supply, the average residual value of a three-year-old car grew by 2.4% compared with February,’ explained Jayson Whittington, Glass’s (part of Autovista Group) chief editor, cars and leisure vehicles. ‘Although a proportion of the uplift is due to March’s registration plate change effect, a direct comparison with the same plate last year still shows an increase of 0.5%.’

Petrol cars experienced a %RVincrease of 1.8% year on year, meanwhile, diesel models fell by 1.3%. HEVs were down by 0.3% and PHEVs increased by 0.5%. BEVs experienced the largest movement, falling 9.6% in %RV terms compared to March 2022.

All-electric models remain under serious pressure in wholesale channels, with RVs expected to continue to decline in the short term. But BEVs do continue to see very good retail demand. The sales-volume index shows a massive 386.6% year-on-year increase in sales. However, demand is failing to keep pace with the increase in supply.

‘One factor of concern for dealers is the length of time it takes to sell a BEV, which is currently 52.5 days on average, versus the general average of just 39.3. Therefore, with the potential risk of two costly book drops before retailing a BEV, it is easy to understand why dealers have become cautious and auction hammer prices have been in decline,’ Whittington added.

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How are UK battery-electric vehicle residual values developing?

Jayson Whittington, head of valuations at Glass’s (part of Autovista Group), discusses the development of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) residual values (RVs) in the UK.

The UK’s used-car market returned to seasonal norms in January, with an uptick in demand. Although the month began slowly, wholesale activity ramped up as the month progressed. The Glass’s valuation team observed auction conversion rates approaching 80%, something not seen regularly throughout 2022.

Demand was strong across most fuel types in January except for BEVs. It appears there has been a sharp increase in used BEV volumes according to Autovista Group’s Monthly Market Update for January. The active-market volume index, which monitors the volume of retail cars on sale, shows a rise of 41.7% compared to December 2022. Compared to January 2022, there has been a staggering increase of 700%.

It should come as no surprise that significantly more BEVs are entering wholesale channels. The following chart shows the growth of BEV registrations over the past few years. The rise has been rapid and coincides with attractive benefit-in-kind taxation rates that have encouraged many company-car drivers to make the switch to electric.

Despite the much-discussed component shortages that led to severe new-car production delays, BEV registrations increased again last year. Manufacturers continue to prioritise the production of their electrified models as it helps them meet strict and potentially costly emissions targets.

Rapid rise continues

The used-car wholesale market has started to see a large volume of BEVs that were registered in late 2019 and 2020, de-fleeting from lease contracts. In 2020, BEV registrations increased by around 186% compared to the prior year. This rapid rise has continued, meaning there is the potential for BEV RVs to come under additional pressure should demand for used examples fail to keep pace with supply.

As a result of the recent volume uplift, the RV performance of BEVs already suffered in January. The final quarter of 2022 was also poor and as a result, values have fallen sharply in recent weeks. The average value of a three-year-old BEV in January sat at 59% of the original cost-new price, a fall of 6.6% compared to December.

BEV values were reasonably high throughout 2022, as can be seen in the following chart, which shows the average value of a three-year-old car since 2020. BEVs benefited from a spike in interest from retail consumers and businesses looking to avoid waiting up to a year for a new model. Values began rising significantly, although they have been on a steady upward trajectory since February 2021.

Although BEV values are potentially facing a correction, they are only narrowly behind the average when expressed as a percentage of the original price. At three years of age, values are 4.9% higher than in January last year.

Consequential consumer confidence

Looking ahead to 2023, the UK’s economic outlook is a factor of concern when considering how RVs will develop in general. It seems certain that consumer confidence will be affected by the continuing cost-of-living crisis and the Bank of England's recent 0.5% rise in interest rates. This puts the rate at 4%, which will be an unwelcome development for many.

However, March this year sees the third anniversary of the beginning of COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK, which signalled the start of major new-car registration disruption, together with serious supply constraints. In 2020 alone, around 680,000 fewer cars were registered than in pre-pandemic 2019. The knock-on effect on the used-car market this year will be even fewer models entering wholesale channels at the end of three-year contracts.

Glass’s expects that while demand could be affected by falling consumer confidence, used-car constraints are likely to result in a fairly balanced supply and demand dynamic, with values being somewhat protected as a result. That said, used-car prices remain at a high level as the average value of a three-year-old car increased by around 30% in 2021 and only fell back 2.5% in 2022. Glass’s expects the average value of a three-year-old car to drop around 5% in 2023, which will still see prices remaining relatively high. However, BEV values are expected to fall by more.

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Monthly Market Update: European used-car prices resilient in January amid challenges for BEVs

The average residual value (RV) of a three-year-old used car increased across most European markets in January, except for modest corrections in France and Switzerland.

Used-car prices outpaced list-price developments in most markets. Accordingly, values of three-year-old used cars, represented as a retained percentage of their original list price (%RV), either held firm or gained last month, except in Austria and France. This aligns with double-digit year-on-year declines in the sales-volume index in the two markets.

Although there are grounds for cautious economic optimism, the cost-of-living crisis will invariably erode consumer demand for used cars, which would ordinarily put pressure on RVs. However, in addition to new-car supply challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly derailed the European new-car market from March 2020 onwards. This will acutely reduce the volume of cars de-fleeting after three years.

So, undersupply into the used-car market is expected to persist, which will compensate for diminishing demand. Accordingly, Autovista Group forecasts that the %RV will not decline significantly across European markets in 2023 and 2024.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) face unique challenges. On one hand, the surge in registrations in Germany at the end of 2022 does not bode well for RVs in the short term. Furthermore, Tesla has reduced list prices, which is having a ripple effect across the prices of its used models and BEVs in general. On the other hand, values stand to gain with lower incentives available in France and Germany and as countries introduce more low-emission zones.

Nevertheless, their low share in new-car markets such as Italy and Spain, and even weaker used-car presence, limits their potential, along with concerns over charging infrastructure.

Click to open the interactive dashboard

Scenario analysis

There are upsides and downsides to this base-case scenario of undersupply and diminishing demand. Used-car prices will come under greater pressure if the economic situation deteriorates in Europe, with a greater negative impact on demand. This would be compounded if there are significant supply improvements.

For example, lower demand for consumer electronics could see a quicker resolution to the semiconductor shortages in the automotive industry. According to VNC Automotive, the ‘semiconductor drought could soon become a flood of chips.’

Conversely, there are risks of greater disruption to new-car supply, which would benefit used-car prices. Automotive suppliers could succumb to mounting costs and economic headwinds. The risk of the war in Ukraine escalating remains too, with potential consequences for Europe’s fragile supply chains. Any unforeseen improvement in used-car demand, either if fewer new models can be delivered or consumers defect to buying used instead of new, would also push RVs higher.

Modest pricing decline in Austria

Living costs are rising in Austria and used-car transactions are slowing down compared to 2022. The sales-volume index clearly shows weakening demand in January, with a year-on-year decline of 20.5%. Conversely, the supply volume of passenger cars aged two-to-four years was 22.2% higher year on year. Average days to sell have increased to 73.5 days.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) are currently selling the fastest, averaging 50.6 days, followed by BEVs with 59.7 days, petrol cars with 73.2 days and diesel cars with 73.6 days. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are selling the slowest, averaging around 104 days.

Despite weakening demand and improving supply, RVs of 36-month-old cars have remained relatively stable. The average %RV decreased by 0.6% month on month in January, with cars retaining 54.9% of their list price on average. This marks a solid 17.7% year-on-year gain.

HEVs are currently leading with a trade value of 58.4% of their original list price, followed by PHEVs (55.8%), then diesel cars and petrol cars (both 54.9%). 36-month-old BEVs retain the lowest value, at 53.6% of list price.

As demand is expected to weaken while supply recovers, pressure on RVs is anticipated. Robert Madas, Eurotax (part of Autovista Group) regional head of valuations, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland, forecasts that the %RV will end 2023 approximately 3% down on December 2022. Nevertheless, prices of three-year-old used cars will remain relatively high. For 2024, Madas predicts that the %RV will decrease by a further 3.6% year on year due to weakening demand and increasing supply.

Buyers await lower prices in France

The French used-car market has seen drastic changes since 2021, with rising RVs amid list-price increases and limited availability of new and, in turn, used cars. The market stabilisation since the end of 2022 was confirmed in January 2023 with the %RV falling 1.5% month on month.

‘Higher list prices are no longer influencing used prices, which is reflected in the poor development of the sales-volume index as buyers are holding back, expecting lower sales prices. Private buyers are focused on older vehicles or lower segments than usual, mainly led by budget. Accordingly, values of used cars aged over 12 years are suffering the least,’ explained Ludovic Percier, residual value and market analyst, France, at Autovista Group.

The %RV of all fuel types is either stable or in decline, except for healthy price growth for BEVs. ‘Vehicles available on the used-car market now offer a higher range, which previously limited the usability of vehicles and the number of customers,’ Percier commented. Nevertheless, BEVs still have the lowest values in both absolute and value-retention terms.

RVs of petrol and diesel cars are subtly declining after ongoing increases in recent months due to new-car shortages, long delivery times, and higher list prices. Furthermore, as new-car buyers have been switching from internal-combustion engines (ICE) to other fuel types over the last two years, this reduced their availability on the used-car market and drove prices higher.

Even with the rollout of low-emission zones (ZFEs) and a tarnished image, RVs of diesel engine cars are falling slowly. ZFEs are only in towns and cities with at least 150,000 inhabitants and do not target high-mileage drivers, but will have a bigger impact on diesel from late 2024 and into 2025.

PHEV values should remain stable for the time being but they already decreased slightly at the end of last year and Percier anticipates further declines from mid-2023 onwards.

EVs under pressure in Germany

The high volume of new-car registrations in December ‘is a prime example of how extraordinarily the German new-car market has been distorted by external influences in recent years and how the implicit mechanisms of supply and demand are being undermined,’ explained Andreas Geilenbruegge, head of valuations and insights at Schwacke (part of Autovista Group).

The prospect of a lower environmental bonus for BEVs and the end of incentives for PHEVs from 1 January meant every eligible car coming off the production line with registration papers, was taken to registration offices to receive the subsidy. January is therefore expected to be a well below-average month, due to the huge number of registrations that were brought forward.

‘For used electric vehicles, this means that the high price level will come under increasing pressure but experience a strong rebound in the coming months. However, residual values for most vehicles continue to stabilise at a high level and show only slight signs of fatigue due to the loss of purchasing power and reluctance to buy. Stock days are also still in a moderate to favourable range,’ Geilenbruegge noted.

Since January is not known for unusual activity from a used-car point of view, it will only become clear from the spring onwards how far values may decline. This will depend not least on the recovery of production and supply before prices presumably take another slight upturn later in the year.

ICE cars will continue to become increasingly rare and the absence of incentives for used electric vehicles (EVs) will maintain stable prices. The soaring prices of new cars will also keep used cars very attractive.

Meanwhile, Tesla has recently caused quite a stir in the industry with a move in the opposite direction. ‘Ultimately, this does a disservice to value retention and not only of the company’s own models,’ Geilenbruegge concluded.

‘Awareness of BEVs is growing’ in Italy

The new year started in the same way 2022 ended in Italy, with RVs increasing sharply, especially compared to a year ago. ‘Suffice to say that a 36-month-old used car with 60,000km on the clock has an average residual value of around €18,900, i.e. almost €2,000 more than in January 2022,’ commented Marco Pasquetti, head of valuations, Autovista Group Italy.

The volume of sales recorded through the main portals, represented by the sales-volume index, also indicates a growing used-car market (up 9.5% compared to December), even though vehicles remain in stock 24 days longer than a year ago.

Used BEVs enjoyed especially strong value growth in January, up 14.8% year-on-year, with the sales-volume index rising by a phenomenal 160.5% year on year. ‘Awareness of BEVs is certainly growing in Italy, but it is still advisable to remain cautious as their share remains very low in the new-car market, at 3.7% in 2022, and especially in the used-car market,’ said Pasquetti.

Pasquetti expects RVs to be higher at the end of 2023 than in December 2022 due to inflation and supply problems, albeit with significantly slower growth than last year.

Lack of stock ‘weighing down’ Spain

The Spanish new-car market closed 2022 with 813,396 registrations and a year-on-year decline of 5.4%. In addition to established supply issues, transport problems constrained the sector further. In 2023, registrations are expected to improve but this depends on what happens to inflation, interest rates, energy prices and, ultimately, how the war in Ukraine develops.

ICE vehicles account for 64% of new-car registrations in Spain. Of the remaining 36%, HEVs capture the largest share (25%). BEVs and PHEVs account for only 9% of the market, in line with Italy, which is clearly below the European average (19%) and neighbouring countries such as Portugal, where they already have a 21% share.

The used-car market also finished 2022 below forecasts, with a string of declines throughout the year. In total, 1,885,553 units were transacted according to the Spanish dealers’ association GANVAM, resulting in a ratio of 2.3 used cars for each new car registered.

‘The lack of stock is weighing down the possibilities of a market that tends to benefit in times of crisis. The limited availability of product mainly applies to younger vehicles, which tend to be in the hands of the dealer network, while the weight of vehicles over 10 years old continues to increase considerably,’ explained Ana Azofra, Autovista Group head of valuations and insights, Spain.

With regard to average RVs, after the usual adjustments at the end and beginning of each year, Azofra expects stability in the coming months. ‘There is a modest downward trend for petrol cars but HEVs are escaping this fate as they are in high demand, with quick turnaround times, as they will benefit from the implementation of zero-emission zones in almost 150 Spanish cities.’

‘It would be expected that BEVs could also benefit from this development but, for the time being, they do not even command a 1% share of the used-car market. As long as the charging infrastructure does not improve, the chances of developing a second-hand electric market are slim,’ Azofra concluded.

RVs stable in Switzerland despite demand

‘The Swiss used-car market has experienced increasing supply for several months, but it is still lower than before the pandemic, especially for younger used cars. Moreover, with rising costs of living, used-car transactions continue to slow down compared to the first half of 2022,’ noted Hans-Peter Annen, head of valuations and insights, Eurotax Switzerland (part of Autovista Group).

Across all two-to-four-year-old passenger cars, the active-market volume in January was 1.8% higher than a month earlier, and 39.2% higher than in January 2022. On the other hand, the sales-volume index has retreated further, with a 10.5% decrease compared to December, albeit with only a small 0.2% decline year on year.

Despite cooling demand, the average value retention of 36-month-old passenger cars grew slightly to 52.6% in January (up 1% month on month and up 13.5% year on year). BEVs posted particularly strong year-on-year %RV gains of 21.4%. Nevertheless, petrol cars are currently leading, retaining 53.4% of their original list price, followed by HEVs (52.0%), BEVs and diesel cars (both 51.2%). 36-month-old PHEVs retain the lowest value, at 49.8% of their original list price.

The average days to sell clearly increased in January, with a passenger car aged two to four years in stock for 73 days. Petrol cars are selling the quickest, after an average of 72 days, followed by diesel cars after 73 days, PHEVs after 79 days, BEVs after 81 days, and HEVs after 84 days.

As used-car demand is expected to weaken amid recovering supply, Annen foresees a slightly decreasing trend but values of three-year-old used cars will remain relatively high. He forecasts that the %RV will finish 2023 around 3% down on December 2022. For 2024, Annen expects RVs to fall by around 3.7% year on year due to weakening demand and increasing supply.

RVs strengthen in UK, except for BEVs

‘The UK’s used-car market returned to seasonal norms in January, with an uptick in demand. Although the month began slowly, wholesale activity ramped up as the month progressed. The Glass’s editorial team observed auction conversion rates approaching 80%, something not seen regularly throughout 2022,’ explained Jayson Whittington, Glass’s (part of Autovista Group) chief editor, cars and leisure vehicles.

RVs for all fuel types strengthened in January, except for BEVs. There has been an especially sharp increase in available volumes of used BEVs according to the active-market volume index, which shows a rise of 41.7% compared to December. BEVs also performed poorly in the last quarter of 2022 and, as a result, values have fallen sharply in recent weeks. The average value of a three-year-old BEV now sits at 59% of the original list price, a fall of 6.6% compared to December.

‘As values have fallen sharply, there is a risk that dealers may become reluctant to buy BEVs speculatively, in fear that prices will continue falling and wipe out any profit margin. This will of course affect demand further. Tesla’s recent move to reduce new-car prices is also likely to affect used values and may lead to other brands suffering more depreciation as consumers evaluate what they can now get for their money,’ commented Whittington.

However, it is worth remembering that used BEV values were reasonably high throughout 2022, the result of a spike in interest from retail consumers and businesses looking to avoid waiting up to a year for a new one. At three years of age, used BEV prices are 4.9% higher than in January last year.

‘Although BEV values are potentially facing a correction, they are only narrowly behind other fuel types when expressed as a percentage of their original list price,’ Whittington concluded.

The January 2023 monthly market dashboard provides the latest pricing, volume and selling-days data.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

Launch Report: The Mercedes-Benz EQE electrifies the executive-saloon market

Mercedes-Benz has extended its line-up of EQ battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) with the EQE. Like the EQS, it features an aerodynamic and modest, but pleasing, ‘one-bow’ design. However, rear headroom is compromised by the sloping roofline and standard-fit panoramic roof. Similarly, the small side and rear windows, developed for aerodynamic and design purposes, reduce visibility, making the rear-view camera essential.

The chassis and suspension of the EQE are designed to be very comfortable, but also allow for more dynamic driving. The front bumper is not too low, making driving over speed bumps in urban areas easier. Additionally, the EQE’s ride height can be set and saved in the GPS to adjust every time the car takes a particular route.

The car has high perceived quality – the materials used for the dashboard, doors, and seats are first-class. The optional MBUX Hyperscreen, which extends across the entire width of the interior, is stunning, although it is only available in limited quantities because of the semiconductor shortage. The two standard displays, which resemble those in the S-Class, are also convincing and the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including an augmented-reality head up display, are all state of the art.

Electrifying the E-segment

The executive segment (E-segment) has been in decline in recent years as consumers increasingly favour SUVs. As a four-door saloon, the all-electric counterpart of the E-Class currently has no direct rivals in the segment. Estate and/or shooting brake versions of the EQE are lacking. These still account for more than 60% of the overall segment and 70% of its fleet registrations in Germany, for example. The forthcoming EQE SUV – essentially a BEV variant of the GLE – will help plug the gap, but comes with a risk of cannibalisation.

On the plus side, Mercedes-Benz is now offering a full range of powertrains in the segment as the E-Class is available with petrol and diesel engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain. As the variety of electric models in the E-segment is still very limited, the EQE’s long range (up to 639km in the 350+ version with a 90.6kWh battery) will appeal to its target audience. This is one of the highest ranges in the segment, exceeding that of cars with similar pricing.

Click to open the interactive dashboard

The 400V on-board network means a DC charging capacity of up to 170kW should be possible, resulting in the battery recharging from 10% to 80% in 32 minutes. This is slightly disadvantageous compared to the 800V technology of the Audi e-Tron GT, Porsche Taycan, and some other newcomers. A larger battery is not available for the EQE, as is the case with the EQS, due to the wheelbase being 9cm shorter.

Converting E-Class owners

The wheelbase of the Mercedes-Benz EQE is over 30cm longer than the E-Class, offering generous space in all seats, and the EQE350 has 245Nm more torque than the AMG E53 E-Class (765Nm vs 520Nm).

The towing capacity of the EQE is only 750kg, compared to a maximum of 2.1 tonnes for the E-Class. Similarly, the 430-litre boot is 110 litres smaller than in the E-Class, whereas the EQS is a hatchback with 70 litres more capacity than the S-Class. There is no additional storage space under the bonnet because of a high-efficiency particulate-absorbing (HEPA) filter, which ensures clean air in the interior. This means the charging cables are stored below the boot floor, which makes charging inconvenient when the car is loaded with luggage.

Overall, the EQE should help Mercedes to retain current E-Class owners that want to, or in fact need to, switch to a BEV. Nevertheless, aside from SUVs, the EQE will face strong competition from the Tesla Model S when versions below the Plaid become available again. The Tesla was the first BEV offered in the E-segment, comes with a strong brand image, and has been regularly updated with facelifts.

Furthermore, BMW will soon start deliveries of the i7, and the i5 has been announced for 2023. An Audi A6 e-Tron, with 800V architecture and a range of over 700km, will be launched in 2024 as both a saloon and an estate. Other premium competitors, such as Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover, are investing millions in electromobility, and Asian manufacturers, including Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis, are pushing into Europe too.

View the Autovista Group dashboard, which benchmarks the Mercedes-Benz EQE in Austria, France, Germany, and the UK for more details. The interactive launch report presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

This content is brought to you by Autovista24.

BMW in the hot seat – opportunities and risks of features on demand

Features on demand (FOD) can open up a world of potential, but not without risk. Sonja Nehls, principal analyst at Autovista24 explores the hot topic.

At the start of July, BMW quietly introduced heated seats as a subscription item to its ConnectedDrive store in several markets. The news sparked an intense debate online, with social media comments ranging from amused to worried.

BMW is in the hot seat, but the topic of FOD is a high-ranking one for all carmakers. Some are more advanced in the process, while others lag behind. Although getting the set-up of FOD right holds certain risks, both on the new and used-car market, there are major opportunities and potential benefits for all stakeholders.

FOD builds on over-the-air update (OTA) technology in a vehicle’s software and adds a commercial angle to it. Through FOD, customers can enhance their car’s set-up and activate certain functionalities for a trial, a limited subscription period, or the lifetime of the vehicle. In a recent video, Autovista24 deputy editor Tom Geggus explains what FOD is all about.

Advantages and opportunities for stakeholders include:

Carmakers can simplify their production processes by unifying the hardware set-up of vehicles. The FOD platform represents a direct customer relationship and a potential revenue stream throughout the lifecycle of a car.
Drivers can experience new features they did not initially order, enhancing and personalising their cars.
Used cars with FOD capabilities can be upgraded individually and therefore appeal to a wider group of potential buyers. Remarketers benefit from increased flexibility and avoid take-it-or-leave-it scenarios.
Fleets do their maths, taking into account the holding period of the car, costs for a FOD subscription compared to the lifetime buy, and implications on remarketing potential.

Not all items qualify for features on demand

Besides the reasonable advantages and opportunities, features on demand face challenges as to the right applications and cost, as well as how to ensure profitability.

Jennifer Bilatscheck, head of Car To Market and consulting at Autovista Group, has worked with a number of carmakers on consulting studies regarding FOD, and identified the main strategic challenges. ‘Selecting the right features at the right subscription price is key. Prices need to be high enough to compensate for the initial hardware investment and attractive enough to secure high take rates. If set up incorrectly, FOD could result in financial loss and impact residual values (RVs) negatively,’ she said.

The team has developed a framework to identify eligible and commercially viable items for FOD, which on the one hand considers the desirability of a feature, represented by the take rate. On the other hand, it reflects the initial hardware investment needed to enable FOD for an item. Functions are commercially viable when there is no additional hardware needed or when the additional hardware is compensated for by a high or growing demand.

Viability of FOD depends on demand and hardware investment

In a recent Autovista24 webinar, Bilatscheck used an example now in the spotlight, heated seats, to explain the risks of FOD. ‘You cannot simply remove an item, which typically is a standard feature with the carmaker’s models, and then offer it as FOD. The basic RV would suffer and the FOD’s potential positive contribution to RVs will not outweigh that impact,’ Bilatscheck explained.

Also, the potential positive impact of the FOD capability depends heavily on the attractiveness of the FOD offer on the used-car market. Used-car buyers are more price-sensitive than new-car buyers.

If FODs are perceived as too expensive, the take rates in the later stages of the lifecycle, and therefore the contribution against initial hardware costs, will be very low and the RV impact of the capacity can even turn into a negative one.

Used-car buyers will deduct the required investment for activating the features they want from the price they are willing to pay for the car. A downward adjustment of prices in line with the overall depreciation of the vehicle will secure relevance for the second or third-hand owner.

Pitfalls for features on demand

The recent criticism BMW faced after it revealed heated seats as a FOD, showed that customers felt robbed of a feature which is already built into cars, but requires additional payment.

BMW UK shared a comment on this saying that ‘where heated seats, or any feature available in the ConnectedDrive store have been purchased when a customer vehicle is ordered, no subsequent subscription or payment is necessary.’ Additionally, there will now be the possibility to enable the heated seats at a later date, for the entire lifetime with a one-time payment of £200 (€235), or a more flexible monthly rate of £15.

In any case, the recent discussion showed that not all items are equally fit for FOD. There is a thin line between offering customers flexibility and putting them off.

FOD has major potential for all software-based functions, which can be truly enhanced and potentially add new features over the lifecycle, including advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) or navigation functions. Purely hardware-based items, like the heated seats, struggle with customer acceptance.

In May 2021, Sonja Nehls and Dr Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist at Autovista Group, touched on this in an Autovista24 podcast on the benefits and challenges of FOD. ‘A customer will know that everything is already built in and will assess the value of activating a feature lower than what OEMs hope’, Nehls said.

The podcast named the biggest pitfalls to avoid when it comes to FODs and the used-car market:

Transparency of activated features and available FODs is crucial to find eligible vehicles and identify the equipment level, especially in comparison to conventionally-equipped cars.
Off-lease vehicles will lack some important features due to expired subscription periods. Attractive packages targeting used-car buyers are needed to mitigate an RV risk for these vehicles.
A clear definition and process are still needed as to taxation and benefit-in-kind for company-car drivers.

Features on demand come with opportunities and challenges. The advantages, especially for remarketing, are promising and enable more flexibility. Carmakers benefit from streamlined production processes, a direct customer relationship, and potential revenue streams.

The current debate on heated seats makes it crystal clear that not all features are eligible and that transparent communication with customers is key, regardless of whether a new or used car is being sold.

ACEA’s influence questioned as Volvo also says it will leave

Questions are being raised about the status and influence of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) as Swedish carmaker Volvo has said it would leave the powerful group by the end of 2022. This follows the decision last month by Stellantis to quit its ACEA membership this year.

The Brussels-based industry group aims to represent a unified approach among carmakers, especially as Europe is in the middle of debating the Fit for 55 package that calls for stricter climate goals. But cracks are starting to show. Two members are now set to leave, and for different reasons – Stellantis to create its own mobility forum, and Volvo because it sees its sustainability ethos as not in tune with ACEA’s.

Not fully aligned

Both Volvo and Stellantis have been key members of ACEA, which represents 16 major manufacturers in Europe and is headed by BMW CEO Oliver Zipse. While the association’s goal is to ‘progress on the road to zero emissions’, Volvo is pursuing more ambitious sustainability targets that it says are not in line with ACEA’s.

Volvo Cars told Autovista24 its sustainability strategy on becoming fully-electric by 2030 does not match ACEA’s position on the matter.

The EU is striving to implement a de facto ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, with ACEA demanding ‘technology openness.’ The group wants hydrogen and what it calls ‘other CO₂-neutral fuels’ to play a role in decarbonising mobility, it explained.

Volvo Cars’ clear support of an all-electric approach would leave no room for the continued use of fossil-fuel-powered cars beyond 2035.

The Swedish carmaker said: ‘After much consideration, we have concluded that Volvo Cars’ sustainability strategy and ambitions are not fully aligned with ACEA’s positioning and way of working at this stage. We therefore believe it is better to take a different path for now.

‘What we do as a sector will play a major role in deciding whether the world has a fighting chance to curb climate change. At Volvo Cars, we believe that it is incumbent on all of us to step up to the challenge. We have one of the most ambitious plans in the industry, but we cannot realise zero-emission transport by ourselves.’

It also urged its peers to make their mark when it comes to addressing climate change. ‘Whoever does so will find a strong ally in Volvo Cars,’ it said.

Unprecedented change

With ACEA losing two of its members in a matter of weeks, these recent developments are exposing a discord among some of its long-standing members. It shows that some manufacturers follow a more progressive approach to cutting carbon emissions than others.

The potential use of e-fuels beyond 2035 also remains a contentious topic, with opinions being divided on the true environmental friendliness of these products.

ACEA stressed to Autovista24 that it would continue to work on a unified approach. Commenting on Volvo’s withdrawal, the association said:

‘We acknowledge the decision of Volvo Car Corporation to leave ACEA by the end of the year. We are in the midst of unprecedented change. ACEA will continue to drive Europe’s ambitious mobility transformation, building on the industry’s global competitive position throughout the transition. We remain committed to act as the voice of Europe’s car, truck, van, and bus makers, working hand-in-hand with all relevant partners and stakeholders.’

Shake-up

Volvo Cars has been one of the most outspoken manufacturers regarding its sustainability. It aims to be a circular and climate-neutral business by 2040, and says this was its biggest ever challenge. With the automotive industry not traditionally known as a climate protector, Volvo has been vocal about its ethical stance and aims to be a responsible business.

Stellantis’ reason for leaving ACEA seems to differ from Volvo’s as it wants to focus its efforts on a new forum dedicated to the future of mobility.

The move is shaking up automotive lobbying activities in Europe. At this stage, it is unclear whether Volvo would join Stellantis’ new mobility forum. While Stellantis, which includes Citroën, Fiat, Opel, and Maserati, wants to sell only battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe by 2030, its targets in other markets such as the US is not as high – in contrast to Volvo’s more ambitious goals.

Earlier this year, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said the EU’s proposal to phase out internal-combustion (ICE) engines would carry environmental and social risks. He criticised electrification for being a technology ‘chosen by politicians, not by industry.’

With the EU still more than a decade away from implementing a potential ICE ban, which could be watered down if an allowance for e-fuels is made, opinions in the automotive industry on how to address climate goals remain divided.

Launch report: Volkswagen ID.5 aims to build on electric brand popularity

Volkswagen’s ID. range is now a well-established electric sub-brand, and it is no secret that several new models are to be unveiled alongside the already popular ID.3 and ID.4. The new ID.5 is expected to keep up interest in VW’s ongoing brand electrification.

At first glance, the ID.5 is a pleasing automotive spectacle, yet not dissimilar to the ID.4 in design. The main external differentiator is the coupé-like sweep on the roof, which angles down into a rear spoiler and tricks the eye into believing the car is smaller and sleeker than a standard SUV. This lower roof does not hamper interior space, and there is still enough for even the tallest of rear-seat passengers.

The car is also practical, with increased boot space over the ID.4, albeit just six litres. The interior is uncluttered and spacious, with a low central tunnel also optimising space for rear passengers. Volkswagen’s ID.5 makes use of the carmaker’s software version 3.0, which provides better route planning, faster response times for the 12-inch infotainment display, and increased charging performance.

When it comes to powertrains and charging, the 77KWh battery is sufficient for a range of up to 520km, according to WLTP figures. The ID.5 will be available in three variants, the Pro, Pro Performance, and GTX. The latter is designed to be a nod to the GTI branding implemented on VW’s sporty petrol and diesel vehicles. The Pro version starts with 128kW/174hp, the Pro Performance version has 150kW/204hp, and the all-wheel-drive GTX version has 220kW/299hp. However, without rear-brake discs, acceleration and braking are not as efficient as some of the car’s rivals.

Click to open the interactive dashboard

Not all similarities are pleasing

The ID.5 shares much with the ID.4, acting simply as a sporty upgrade to the older, more established model. Unfortunately, some of those things the cars share are not all positive. The interior materials quality is below what users have come to expect from Volkswagen’s petrol and diesel vehicles. Like the ID.4 and ID.3, the carmaker has lavished a lot of plastic surfaces around the inside of the ID.5. This does not give a premium feel, which is a shame with a vehicle costing so much.

The design of the controls around the driver are also not ideal. Climate controls are operated via the infotainment system’s touchscreen and require multiple steps to amend. Touch-sensitive sliders beneath the screen are also easy to knock when adjusting touchscreen controls. While moving functions into a digital realm allows carmakers to increase the scope of over-the-air updates or functions on demand, the distraction for the driver, having to focus more on a screen than the road ahead, is questionable.

However, software 3.0 does allow Volkswagen to build on some of the functionality seen in the ID.4. This includes black-based lane guidance and Park Assist Plus with memory function, which can autonomously retrace parking processes once they have been saved.

Is brand awareness enough?

Volkswagen has strong brand awareness in key European markets covered in this latest launch report, and this helps residual values. The ID. sub-brand has proven popular with buyers, and even though models are just filtering into the used-car marketplace, such interest is likely to continue with those not seeking a new model.

Ultimately, the ID.5 is a sportier variant of the ID.4, and it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to convince buyers to pick this model over its stablemate or the extended family members Skoda Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé. While the ID. the family remains popular, new models are on their way, seeking to take market share from Volkwagen’s mass-market electrification brand. With other ID. models in the pipeline, the hope is that these vehicles will be differentiated against competitors, but also each other.

The Autovista Group dashboard benchmarks the Volkswagen ID.5 in Austria, France, Germany, and the UK for more details. The interactive launch report presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

Launch Report: Toyota Aygo X gives A-segment the crossover treatment

The Toyota Aygo X serves as a replacement for the Aygo city car in Toyota’s European lineup. It one of the few A-segment models with SUV/crossover styling and proportions.

The Aygo X has a great aesthetic, with a harmonised exterior and interior. It handles well, thanks to a good chassis and 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, which are standard across all trim lines. The car will be easy to park in the city with its very tight turning circle, but rear visibility is compromised by the design, which makes the boot loading sill high.

Higher ground clearance makes front access into the car easy but getting into the back seats is more difficult due to the narrow rear-door opening. Inside, rear legroom is limited too, although this is a common problem in the city-car segment. While many rivals offer electric windows, the Aygo X’s hinged-rear windows will be safer for small children and are not unusual in the A-segment.

Sleekly styled. the model shares its platform with the B-segment Yaris and has grown in length by about 24cm, to 3.7m, compared to its predecessor. The car is also slightly wider, and the crossover styling makes it a few centimetres taller too. This has a positive effect on seating space, as well as the boot, which holds 231 litres. Although this is about 20 litres smaller than in the Kia Picanto and the Hyundai i10, it is still a competitive size, and 60 litres more than in the Aygo.

There are no hybrid or electric powertrains available for the Aygo X, only a one-litre petrol engine. However, there is a choice between a five-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission. The three-cylinder petrol engine, carried over from the Aygo, hums a little and is noisy at higher speeds. Taking 14.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100kph, the model appears to be down on power compared to the competition, but usage costs will be low, with official fuel consumption of only 4.8 litres per 100km.

The interior is dominated by an egg-shaped central display that houses a multimedia system with either a seven-inch or nine-inch touchscreen. Standard equipment includes LED daytime-running lights, a rear-view camera, and Toyota ‘Safety Sense’, which features systems such as collision warning, brake assistant, lane-change warning, adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist and traffic-sign recognition.

High price positioning

The Aygo X is the freshest offering in the A-segment and competes against older models – the most recent addition was the third-generation Hyundai i10, which launched in 2020. There are also fewer A-segment models in the market, especially since the withdrawal of the former Aygo’s siblings, the Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1.

Open the interactive dashboard

However, the comparatively high list prices of the Aygo X position it at the upper end of the A-segment. This is partly because advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as active cruise control and lane assist are included as standard, which are arguably unnecessary in a car that is not dedicated to driving outside cities.

There are cheaper city-car alternatives for consumers that do not feel the need for a higher driving position, and this segment is often more influenced by cost than others. However, the Aygo X does benefits from Toyota’s reputation for producing high-quality, reliable cars, and enjoys strong brand loyalty.

City cars in jeopardy

City cars, with their relatively low weight and compact dimensions, are more environmentally friendly than B-segment cars and SUVs. But there is limited room for demand growth in both the new and used-car markets, due to their low versatility and specific use.

However, due to increasingly stringent emissions regulations and safety requirements, they are becoming increasingly expensive, with prices approaching those of B-segment models that offer greater versatility. A case in point is the iconic Fiat 500 that, despite being a smaller rival and a different concept to the Aygo X, is available as a battery-electric vehicle but with B-segment pricing.

There are not many crossover/SUV-style vehicles in the A-segment, although that is likely to increase due to their popularity and the need to accommodate batteries for hybrid and electric powertrains. Nevertheless, as city cars can hardly be produced at an attractive end-customer price, especially with electrified powertrains, they are even threatened with extinction.

View the Autovista Group dashboard, which benchmarks the Toyota Aygo X in Austria, France, Spain, and the UK for more details. The interactive launch report presents new prices, forecast residual values, and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.

Prices of new petrol and diesel cars on the rise – electric vehicles less affected

As inflation continues to rise in Europe, Christof Engelskirchen, chief economist of Autovista Group, explores why carmakers are pushing up the price of internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles more than electric vehicles.

Eurozone inflation is rising, with the latest consensus suggesting it will sit around 7% for 2022 in the European Union and the UK. This rise has been spreading into the automotive sector, underpinned by ongoing supply shortages of new and used cars. Price rises are being further compounded by a steep ascent of raw-material and energy costs as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Autovista24 expects the trend of rising new-car prices to continue as long as supply constraints remain ubiquitous. This will positively affect used-car prices as well – if demand cannot be met on new-car markets, buyers will turn to used models and this supports price realisation. Carmakers will have no other choice than to increase prices to support their margins.

Not all vehicle powertrains are affected in the same way, however. Prices for ICE models have been rising more than those of electric vehicles (EVs) over the past year. There are substantial segment differences too, as can be witnessed in the German market.

Gross list-price changes by segment in Germany – April 2022 year on year

Prices for diesel and petrol vehicles rise on a similar scale within the same segment. For example, in the mid-size segment (e.g. BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class), both powertrain types have risen by 7% over the past year. In the large-vehicle segment, prices for each rose by 4%, while in the compact-vehicle segment petrol and diesel-vehicle prices rose by 6%. This was no coincidence. In fact, they appear to be equally affected by rising costs of materials and are treated similarly from a carmaker’s pricing-strategy perspective.

There was one exception to the parity in this development. Diesel prices in the small-vehicle segment (e.g. Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo and Renault Clio) have jumped on average by 16%, which has been driven by the added costs to emissions treatment, which weigh more heavily on cars in this segment. Petrol-vehicle prices only rose by 8%.

Steering customers towards electric powertrains

OEMs are shifting their portfolios towards battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). It is no surprise, therefore, that price rises for BEVs were more moderate than those of petrol and diesel vehicles: 3% in the small-vehicle segment and 2% in the mid-size segment.

In the compact-vehicle segment, the average price rise of 11% for BEVs can be attributed to the launch of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which changed the mix and drove average prices up. Similarly, the 12% increase in the large-size segment was driven by the Taycan Cross Turismo debuting in May 2021.

PHEV price rises are also substantially more moderate than for ICE vehicles, given their contribution to meet EU CO₂-emissions standards. The exception was a 14% price increase in one year in the large-SUV segment, which was driven by price increases from BMW. Overall, the number of PHEV-powertrain offerings was still relatively small, so every new launch affects vehicle-price averages significantly.

While price rises for BEVs and PHEVs have been more moderate, the prices of ICE vehicles are almost exactly trailing annual inflation rates (around 7% to 8%). Higher price rises for ICE vehicles than for BEVs and PHEVs are evidence that most carmakers are steering customers towards electric powertrains.

Higher inflation in eastern-European countries

Annual inflation stayed at a high level in April 2022, driven by price rises for food and energy. April’s Eurozone annual inflation remained stable at a high 7.4%, while inflation in the UK was 7%. Prices have been rising since the beginning of 2021, but it is worth noting that the Ukraine war has driven energy and food prices through the roof. If you take these out of the equation, annual inflation would have been around 3.5% in April.

Inflation was much higher in eastern than in western-European countries. For example, in the Czech Republic, annual inflation rose to 14.2% in April. In Estonia it was 18.9%, Lithuania 16.8%, and Poland 12.4%.

Spain was one of the few countries where inflation fell in April, to 8.3% from 9.8% in March. Countries that are less dependent on energy (and food) imports, like Spain, show lower inflationary tendencies. Other examples include Norway at 5.4%, and France at 4.8% in April.

Inflation outlook above 6% in Europe

Inflation is expected to surge to around 7% in both the EU and the Eurozone for the full year of 2022, with some central and eastern-European countries likely to see double-digit price rises in this timeframe. For 2023, the EU’s inflation will likely fall to 2.7%, but still sit above the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) 2% target. Interest-rate rises in July are very likely in the Eurozone.

It is worth noting that the next possible escalation of the Ukraine war could result in a stoppage of oil and gas supply from Russia, which would trigger a gloomier scenario. The EU expects gross domestic product (GDP) growth to come down from an already subdued 2.5% in 2022 to 0.2%, and inflation would be 3% higher than in the base case, perhaps approaching 10% in that scenario this year. In 2023, inflation would be one point higher than in the base case, i.e. around 4%.

Volkswagen Group prices higher than others

Across all powertrain types, and controlling for changes in the model mix, Volkswagen (VW) Group brands led the way in terms of price rises. Audi, Cupra, Seat, Skoda and VW have increased prices more than other carmakers (see chart below). There are two possible reasons for this:

They are pushing customers towards electric powertrain types, via price rises for ICE vehicles
They are particularly affected by supply constraints, which leads the brands to consolidate their margins via price rises more than other OEMs.

New-vehicle price index in Germany by brand January 2019 to April 2022

*Source: Autovista Group* –
(*graphic opens in new tab)*

In terms of price development, Kia and Hyundai are at a comparably low 102.9% and 102.4% level respectively. They are apparently less exposed to supply issues than VW Group brands and are building market share with their more moderate pricing strategy. According to Germany’s national ministry of vehicle transport, the KBA, Kia’s market share in the country in April 2022 was 3.8%, compared to 2.4% in April 2021. Hyundai grew its April market share from 3.3% to 4.1%. VW, on the other hand, dropped from an 18.8% market share in April 2021 to 16.6% in the same timeframe.

Ukraine war means forecast tightens for Europe’s big five new-car markets

Autovista24 has downgraded its forecasts for Europe’s big five new-car markets. Senior data journalist Neil King explains why.

Western Europe’s major new-car markets endured double-digit declines in March as the war in Ukraine destabilised supply chains and delayed vehicle deliveries. The Ukraine war is expected to have a negative impact throughout 2022, and although a significant impact on new-car sales, i.e. order intake, is not expected, supply challenges could persist until 2024.

Beyond the production stoppages announced by the Volkswagen (VW) and BMW groups shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed to Autovista24 that it is ‘temporarily adjusting shift plans at some plants.’

The conflict is also indirectly affecting manufacturers as lower neon-gas supplies from the region compound the pre-existing shortage of semiconductors.

‘Ford has very limited direct sourcing from Ukraine and Russia. We have worked with our suppliers to move tools to other locations or supply parts from other regions,’ the carmaker told Autovista24. Nevertheless, Reuters reported on 21 March that Ford ‘will idle its German plants in Saarlouis and Cologne, mostly due to the global chip shortage.’

Volvo Cars told Autovista24 that it has ‘very limited direct relationships with suppliers in the affected areas and so far, we have not seen any impact on supply or production volumes.’ However, the Swedish carmaker ‘is experiencing a temporary worsened production situation, expected to last throughout the second quarter due to lack of a specific type of semiconductor.’

Modest improvement in the second half

In this context, Autovista24’s new-car registration outlooks for the second quarter have been revised further downwards in four of the five major Western European markets. The exception is Spain, where there is a backlog of orders to be fulfilled following the additional dramatic impact of a truckers’ strike in the country from 14 March.

Monthly new-car registrations, Germany, April 2020 to December 2022

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The full interactive dashboard presents the latest and previous monthly forecasts for 2022, as well as the annual outlook for the big five European markets to 2025.

The disruption to production is expected to diminish as carmakers secure alternative supplies of raw materials and components, although this typically takes weeks not months. Fundamentally, the outlook for new-car registrations hinges on vehicle deliveries and the anticipated improvement in the supply of semiconductors is weaker than before the invasion of Ukraine.

‘We still see a structural undersupply in 2022, which is only likely to ease somewhat in the third or fourth quarter,’ Volkswagen’s chief financial officer, Arno Antlitz, said in an interview with Germany’s Börsen Zeitung.

In conjunction with the lagged registration of the additional losses that have been factored into the second quarter, the outlook for the second half of the year has been modestly improved compared to last month. Italy also stands to benefit from the reintroduction of incentives for electric and low-emission vehicle purchases. A total of €650 million will be made available until 2024.

However, not all losses are forecast to be recovered by the end of the year. The net effect is that the combined 2022 forecast volume for the big five markets has been reduced from 8.58 million units last month, to 8.35 million units. This marks a reduction of over 230,000 units, or a 2.7% downgrade, and equates to year-on-year growth of just 1.2% in 2022 after two consecutive annual contractions of 25.4% and 2.2%. Compared to the February forecast, prepared prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the 2022 outlook for new-car registrations is about 600,000 units lower.

The new-car markets of France, Spain and Italy are forecast to contract between 2% and 4% in 2022. Autovista24 now expects around 2.75 million new-car registrations in Germany this year, an increase of 4.9% year on year, but this follows the 10% downturn in 2021. The forecast for the UK has been reduced further to below 1.74 million units, representing year-on-year growth of 5.4%.

Disruption persists in 2023

With more new-car registrations displaced into 2023 than previously assumed, higher double-digit growth rates are expected in the five countries next year. However, semiconductor shortages are certainly expected to persist into 2023 and probably beyond. ‘The situation should improve in 2023, but the structural problem will not yet have been fully resolved,’ VW’s Antlitz told Börsen Zeitung.

This opinion is echoed by BMW Group CEO, Oliver Zipse. ‘The investment cycle for semiconductor producers to build new capacity is between 24 and 48 months,’ Zipse explained to the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung. ‘Currently, we are still in the peak phase of the chip shortage. I expect that we will see an improvement next year at the latest. But we will still have to deal with the fundamental shortage in 2023,’ Zipse added.

Autovista24 forecasts that the volume of registrations across the five key Western European new-car markets will rise above 10 million units in 2023, but this is still 11% lower than in pre-pandemic 2019.

A return to comparative normality is expected in 2024, a year which is also expected to benefit from a pull-forward effect as automotive manufacturers and consumers seek to register cars ahead of the EU Commission’s target of a 55% reduction in CO₂ emissions in 2025, compared to 2021 levels.

Autovista24 expects a modest correction in Europe’s leading new-car markets in 2025, except in Spain as the anticipated slower recovery means the market will be the furthest adrift in 2024.

There are significant downside risks to this challenging forecast. The outlook ultimately depends on the duration and severity of the conflict in Ukraine, whether it extends to the west of the country, including the critical port city of Odessa, and even beyond its borders. This would add greater supply and logistical challenges.

Unlike previous crises, such as the global financial crash of 2008-2009, the registrations outlook for Western European markets hinges far more on new-car supply than any economic impact on new-car sales.

The new Dacia Jogger: an unlikely residual value hero

Autovista24 principal analyst Sonja Nehls digs into the new Dacia Jogger and its remarketing potential.

The new Dacia Jogger might seem an unusual choice in a series focused on remarketing potential, residual values (RVs), and fleet relevance of new-car launches, but there are many good reasons for choosing it. Together with the Dacia Duster, the Jogger represents a new generation of Dacia models with improved quality and design. Just like its stablemates, it will enter automotive markets at benchmark new-car prices, maintain low depreciation throughout its lifecycle and will reach used-car markets with strong residual-value potential.

The low depreciation makes it a total cost of ownership (TCO) champion. Rising list prices and energy costs, as well as a shortage of used cars and soaring residual values, all add to a climate of economic uncertainty. Smaller businesses in particular need to look more closely at their costs and buying or leasing decisions. Backed by a convincing cost performance the Dacia Jogger has the potential to win over commercial customers, but the brand’s image and reputation will be its biggest obstacle.

Dacia Jogger remarketing potential

Remarketing upsides	Remarketing downsides
Low list prices and strong residual values (RVs) result in benchmark depreciation and TCO	Brand perception and image
Improved quality and design	110hp petrol and 100hp LPG engines are slightly underpowered, especially with a fully-loaded car
Occupies a niche segment and combines characteristics of a van, estate and SUV	Unusual silhouette and roofline
Modularity and roominess, seven-seater option
Liquefied-petroleum gas (LPG) engine available as an alternative to diesel with additional cost-saving potential

Three body styles in one model

The new Dacia Jogger replaces not just one but three previous Dacia models and combines characteristics of a van, an estate, and an SUV – all in one. Add to that the possibility of up to seven seats and this is a unique model. The Dacia Jogger has no truly comparable rivals.

As the focus for potential purchasers is getting plenty of car for their budget, other models in the relevant segment will be the likes of a Kangoo passenger van, a Fiat Tipo estate or a Skoda Scala. The typical seven-seater vans like a Grand Scenic or Volkswagen Touran or SUVs exist in a different league price-wise.

Specifications and dimensions versus main rivals

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Source: Autovista Group specification data

The new Dacia Jogger joins the Duster in demonstrating how far the Romanian car manufacturer has come, working hard on overcoming the reputation of being cheap and delivering poor quality.

Due to the unusual combination of several body shapes in one car, the Jogger looks a bit quirky, especially from the side and towards the rear. It is reminiscent of classic estates from the 1990s, but with a higher roofline. In any case, it is instantly clear that this car is all about space and versatility.

The interior greets drivers and passengers with a conventional style, including traditional control elements and instruments as well as an eight-inch touchscreen (not standard on the entry version). Material selection is aiming towards the simpler end of the spectrum, as you would expect, but the dashboard and door panels are cleverly styled and well executed. The third row seats adults comfortably enough and the two additional seats can be built in and out individually. With models of this size and price, the seven-seater option is a unique selling point (USP).

Initially, the Jogger is available with a 110hp petrol engine and a 100hp LPG engine. In some markets, such as Poland or Italy, LPG is very popular and in the light of soaring energy costs, the alternative fuel type offers additional saving potential. To put this into context, a spot-check calculation of fuel costs in Germany in March 2022 results in €11.50 per 100km for the petrol engine and €8.30 per 100km for the LPG engine (calculated with the WLTP consumption figures). A hybrid version will follow in 2023 and the smaller sibling Dacia Spring caters for battery-electric vehicle (BEV) demand.

Benchmark new-car price

Price is obviously the strongest selling point for the Dacia Jogger as you can buy a top version of it for under €20,000. Entry versions start at around €14,000. How convincing the price argument is becomes obvious when looking at the list-price development in the C-segment across Europe.

New-car price development (all fuel types, C-segment), unweighted, 2019-2021

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Source: Autovista Group. Note: Green 95% percentile, orange mean price, blue 5% percentile.

Since 2019, list prices in the C-segment increased by 15-20% in most markets, with the exception of a more moderate 7% in France and a 26% surge in Hungary. France also saw a stronger increase of 16% for the cheaper 5% of models (the blue line) offered in the segment, but a less pronounced increase for the more expensive and better-equipped versions.

With list prices exceeding inflation levels, increased economic uncertainty and rising energy costs, private and commercial customers will look more closely into the affordability of their mobility needs and the TCO of new cars.

TCO driven by depreciation

The depreciation of a vehicle typically accounts for the largest share of its TCO. A lower depreciation, therefore, brings down TCO significantly, resulting in better leasing rates and lower monthly costs.

As a reference, the below example shows the TCO of the Dacia Lodgy TCe 100 seven-seater compared to three potential rivals on the French market. The overall TCO is the lowest, by a margin of almost €2,000 to the Skoda Scala 1.0 TSI. At €5,910 the depreciation only makes up 25% of the Lodgy’s TCO, 15 percentage points less than for the Skoda Scala (€10,160). The Dacia then loses some of its initial advantages due to fuel consumption and insurance costs. Keep an eye out for the TCO data of the Dacia Jogger included in Car Cost Expert upon its official arrival in the market.

TCO comparison Dacia Lodgy versus competitors, France, 36mth/60kkm, March 2022

Residual values are a major advantage

Dacia models repeatedly won the Schwacke and AutoBild Wertmeister Award in Germany thanks to their high relative RVs and subsequently low depreciation. The Dacia Jogger seems to be willing to follow their lead. Thanks to strong residual-value forecasts in combination with low list prices, the depreciation for the Dacia Jogger will be its major advantage across markets. In the countries shown in this interactive dashboard, depreciation will range between only €4,700 to €6,700 over two years and 60,000km in Germany and Hungary and go up to €7,500-10,000 in Italy.

Dacia Jogger forecasted depreciation, 36mth/60kkm, March 2022

Open the interactive dashboard

While the situation in Italy looks less favourable in the cross-country overview, this is mainly rooted in general differences in RV levels between countries. When compared to rivals in Italy, the Dacia once again manifests its advantage in terms of an extraordinary RV strength and therefore low depreciation.

Dacia Jogger forecasted depreciation versus competitors, Italy, 36mth/60kkm, March 2022

Open the interactive dashboard

Strong new-car registrations and RVs in Eastern Europe

In Romania, Dacia’s domestic market (not shown in the dashboard), the situation is even more beneficial than in Germany or Hungary, with residual values around 74% and a depreciation of below €5,000 on any model.

Ulmis Horchidan, Autovista Group’s chief editor in Romania, explains that Dacia ‘made a big step forward in terms of quality and design and carved out a new segment for the Jogger, which does not have any direct competitors. The Dacia Jogger has the potential for family and commercial use and, most importantly, it is a good match for the economic reality of people.’ He explains that due to continuously rising residual values, energy costs and new-car prices, many brands simply become too expensive – as new cars and on the used-car market – and the Dacia Jogger is a good option in this market environment.

‘The Dacia Jogger has the potential for family and commercial use and most importantly it is a good match for the economic reality of people.’
Ulmis Horchidan, chief editor Romania, Autovista Group

Poland is the biggest Eastern European automotive market and with a 10% share, Dacia ranks third in private registrations, only exceeded by Toyota and Kia. However, when it comes to commercial registrations Dacia’s share drops to 3% and the Duster is the only Dacia model in the top 20.

Marcin Kardas, head of valuations and specification with Autovista Group in Poland, states that ‘the Dacia Jogger will not be a typical fleet car, but there still might be some potential due to current economic circumstances and increasing costs. The battery-electric vehicle Dacia Spring already sees rising commercial registrations, mainly with car rental companies.’

Jędrzej Ratajski, Autovista Group market analyst in Poland, adds that Polish customers see Dacia models as ‘cheap, practical and best value for money. The Jogger might change this point of view as it also looks nice and is well built. It can fill the gap that the phase-out of some vans leaves. For example, the passenger versions of Renault Kangoo and also Citroën Berlingo are at least temporarily not available.’

An option for car fleets

Does the improved quality, low depreciation and benchmark TCO make the Dacia Jogger a perfect model for car fleets?

So far, commercial registrations for Dacia vehicles remain the exception and the clear focus is on private customers. The Jogger will appeal especially to families in need of space and versatility at an affordable price. And this focus on private customers is one of the drivers of the strong RV performance.

However, Dacia has come a long way and there might be a small window of opportunity opening for a new target group of commercial buyers. Economic uncertainty, increasing costs and energy prices will make smaller businesses, in particular, look into their cost structures and seek improvements. The Dacia Jogger will certainly not be the car attracting user-chooser fleets, but for non-user chooser fleets or white fleets in need of cars as ‘workhorses’, as Ulmis Horchidan said, it could be a viable and rational option.

Not evoking desirability

The one thing that stands in the way of rising commercial registrations and fleet adoption is the brand Dacia itself. Being the rational choice and a sign of understatement does not leave much room for automotive emotions.

But in the end, every technician or craftswomen also takes pride in the quality and reputation of the tools they use, so maybe also the non-user-chooser fleet purchase decision is a more emotional one than you would initially think. The brand of tool or car an employer provides for working hours, but oftentimes also for personal use, helps with employee satisfaction and retention. While Dacia has improved significantly on so many levels, it remains a brand not evoking desirability.

Monthly Market Update: RVs maintain upward trend in October with switch to used cars

The active market-volume index retreated in most of Europe’s used-car markets in October, with demand outstripping constrained supply. Moreover, consumers are switching to the used-car market in droves as they are unwilling to accept the higher prices and long delivery times of new cars. The increased demand for young used cars is cascading down to older used cars and residual values (RVs) of three-year-old models rose yet again in October. Consequently, the 2021 RV outlook has been upgraded in Austria. France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Autovista Group has recently extended its coverage of used-car markets in the dashboard to include Austria and Switzerland. It also includes a breakdown of key performance indicators by fuel type, average new-car list prices and sales-volume and active market-volume indices.

Even RVs of standard, non-plug-in hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are holding up well, despite the arrival of new players on the used market, as they can substitute for the lack of cars with internal-combustion engines (ICE). However, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continue to struggle as the rise in supply, partly because of tactical new-car registrations, is not absorbed by used-car buyers.

Austria supplies 10% below pre-pandemic

Since the beginning of the year, the Austrian used-car market has been characterised by stable demand and continued low supply, explains Robert Madas, Eurotax (part of Autovista Group) valuations and insights manager, Austria and Switzerland.

On average across all passenger cars aged two to four years, the supply volume in October was approximately 10% lower than at the beginning of 2020. Diesel vehicles in particular are missing from the market, with a drop of 18.2% compared to the start of last year. At the same time, sales activity for diesel cars in September was 17.5% higher than in January 2020.

Average days to sell have decreased by 2.1 days compared to September. This is way below the figures from last year: on average, a two-to-four-year-old car is on offer for 55.1 days, down from 62 days a year ago. Diesel cars are selling the fastest, averaging 53 days.

This market environment has led to a further increase in RVs of 36-month-old cars, which have risen by 6.5% year on year to retain 45.6% of their value. HEVs are currently leading with a trade value of 47.4%, followed by petrol cars (46.7%) and PHEVs (46.6%). In contrast, RVs of three-year-old BEVs have declined significantly and currently stand at 37.4% (down 5.1% year on year). The reasons for this, apart from the significantly higher supply volumes, are the faster technology ageing of older BEVs as well as the attractive subsidies on the new-car market.

Madas assumes that the market parameters will not change in the medium term, so that RVs for three-year-old passenger cars will probably continue to rise this year and next. Only when the new-car market picks up significantly, and thus volumes on the used-car market also increase, are values likely to come under pressure. This will probably not be the case before 2023.

Used-car switch in France

RVs have been strongly increasing in France for several weeks because of a transfer of consumers from the new-car market to the used-car market due to delivery delays and a lack of used-car stock, writes Yoann Taitz, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations and insights, France and Benelux.

When looking at the new-car market, two important points explain why consumers are switching to used cars: the semiconductor crisis has led to extended delivery times, and list prices have been steadily increasing for several months. The price rises are related to the chips shortage, but also new safety (NCAP) and emissions standards, Taitz explains.

When considering the used-car market, there are three key points.

Used-car stocks have been drying up since July 2020 because of the measures taken by the French government after the first lockdown
There has been a halt in sales to the rental channel since mid-2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis, explaining the recent lack of used cars on the market
There has been an extension of leasing contracts for fleet customers since 2020 because of the pandemic, but also due to changes to fuel-type choices, explaining a lack of 36/48 month-old cars.

‘To sum up, the demand increase, coupled with a drop in supply, explains the value increases, or at least stability, for all fuel types except BEVs,’ Taitz highlights.

Electrified vehicles under mounting pressure

Toyota, which has a healthy sales strategy in terms of RV management, was leading the used-car market for a long time in terms of HEV volumes. However, new competitors have arrived on the market in recent months, such as Renault and Hyundai, while Toyota’s volumes have increased too. Hence, the increased supply is leading to lower RVs. Nevertheless, RVs remain high as HEVs are a good alternative to PHEVs in terms of price, especially for consumers who cannot charge their car regularly.

RVs of PHEVs are high too, in line with their list prices. However, PHEVs are sensitive to any increase in volumes. Even if the volumes remain modest, compared to ICE models, they have risen in recent months, explaining the decrease in RVs. There are also many more PHEVs being offered by mainstream brands, explaining the reduction in list prices.

Despite the semiconductor shortages, OEMs are favouring production and sales of BEVs on the new-car market to reduce average fleet emissions. However, the market is still facing difficulties as buyers are not confident in the use of BEVs, which is not helped by their high list prices. Hence lots of BEVs have been sold in tactical channels since the beginning of summer, which is detrimental to RVs. ‘The future level depends on their acceptance in the used-car market and although volumes sold on the new-car market are still very low compared to petrol and diesel cars, they are still far too high given the low used-car demand, explaining the latest monthly decline in values,’ concludes Taitz.

Diesel impacted in Germany

For vehicles of all ages, the available supply and stock days on the German used-car market remain far below average. In the case of three-year-old diesels, the decline is particularly pronounced due to the weak fleet year of 2018, with listings almost halving since the start of the pandemic, explains Andreas Geilenbruegge, head of valuations and insights at Schwacke (part of Autovista Group).

Both BEVs and PHEVs, on the other hand, are experiencing a volume upswing with a 2% to 4% share of used-car transactions for cars registered new in 2020 and 2021. However, this is a long way from the 10%-14% electrically-chargeable vehicle (EV) share of new-car registrations in those years. The downside of this volume development is reflected in their prices and stock days.

Although PHEVs can be used to substitute for unmet customer demand for ICE vehicles, there is an increasing discrepancy between the transacted and offer prices of older used PHEVs. Dealer price optimism seems to be ‘overheating’ a little and runs the risk of overshooting the mark, whereby consumers will no longer follow this price spiral. Three-year-old petrol cars show a similar spread, albeit much less pronounced, and are still within the normal range, but with a tendency to overpricing.

‘Unless there is a sudden and unexpected collapse in customers’ desire to buy, the year is heading for record turnover in the used-car trade,’ Geilenbruegge says. This is despite the relatively low volume of transactions, with changes of ownership of cars aged less than five years 9% down year on year through September.

Seasonal adjustment in Italy

In October, there was a slight drop in RVs in Italy compared to last month, of just 0.4%. ‘However, it would be wrong to interpret this as a drop in interest in the used car-market or the start of a reversal of the trend that has characterised this year, as it is rather a seasonality effect,’ says Marco Pasquetti, forecast and data specialist, Autovista Group Italy.

Comparing the market’s performance against last year, the average RV is 5.1% higher, sales in the used-car market are up 7.3%, and a car is sold on average after 58.8 days, 5.3 fewer days than a year ago. All five of the fastest-selling models were sold in less than 40 days, a clear sign of a very buoyant used-car market that is benefiting from delays in new-vehicle deliveries.

Looking at the different fuel types, petrol and diesel vehicles are still the best performers, with RVs, after 36 months and 60,000km, retaining 41.2% and 44.9% of list price, respectively.

BEVs are increasing in volume but remain on sale for an average of 114 days before being sold. ‘Their market share is still marginal, and RVs are very low in percentage terms (29.8%) due to the pressure stemming from the strong incentive plan on the new-car market, which, although currently exhausted, is likely to be refinanced,’ comments Pasquetti.

Since the end of September, a bonus is also available for the purchase of used cars with low CO₂ emissions. Autovista Group therefore expects a slightly positive impact on the RVs of BEVs, although this is likely to be more visible during 2022.

Upward trend in Spain

Used-car transactions in Spain are higher than in 2020 and performing better than new-car registrations. However, the shortage of product continues to suppress growth and volumes are still below the 2019 level, with a diminishing chance of being able to surpass it this year, says Ana Azofra, Autovista Group head of valuations and insights, Spain.

This shortage of supply is speeding up sales of current stock and is sustaining the upward trend in RVs, the pace of which has accelerated in recent months. On average, a three-year-old used car with 60,000km could be sold in October for approximately €275 more than in September.

But this upward trend is not the same for all fuel types. HEVs, which already started in a strong position, show stability in their average transaction prices, albeit slightly underperforming petrol and diesel cars. Their stock days are generally slightly lower than for ICE models.

Petrol cars saw the greatest improvement in their average prices on the used-car market in October, followed by diesels. With a 40% reduction in the number of diesel models in stock compared to last year, their healthy RVs continue to rise.

At the other end of the scale, the supply of BEVs into the used-car market continues to increase, but with insufficient demand to absorb them. The outlook for these models is worsening as their constraints remain unresolved: high new-car prices, incentive pressures on RVs, and a charging infrastructure that is lagging behind other major European markets.

Swiss supply volume 20% lower

For some time now, the Swiss used-car market has been characterised by stable demand and low supply. On average across all two-to-four-year-old passenger cars, the supply volume in October was 21.3% below the level at the beginning of 2020, notes Madas.

Diesel cars are particularly missing on the market, with supply approximately 37% down compared to the beginning of 2020, whereas the sales volume is at a similar level. For petrol cars, where there are also significantly fewer offers on the market than at the beginning of 2020 (down 15%), and hybrids of all types, market activity is particularly high in relation to available supply.

The supply of PHEVs and especially BEVs has increased significantly since the beginning of 2020. Demand for PHEVs exceeds supply but for BEVs, supply and demand remain balanced.

After a decline in recent months, the average days to sell rose slightly for a short time but are now declining again: a passenger car aged two-to-four years is in stock for 65 days. Petrol cars are selling especially quickly, after an average of 61 days, followed by diesel with 67 days and PHEVs with 78 days.

This market environment has led to a further increase in the average RV percentage of 36-month-old passenger cars, to 44% (+10.1% compared to October 2020). Petrol cars posted strong year-on-year gains of 10.6%, to 45.1%, as too did diesel cars (up 9.1% to 42.1%).

Regarding the future development of RVs, supply will be decisive. As cumulative new-car registrations are markedly lower this year than before the crisis (down 20.4% compared to 2019), Madas assumes that market parameters will not change in the medium term. ‘RVs for three-year-old used cars will probably continue to rise this year, and at the beginning of next year, before stabilising over the course of 2022,’ he concludes.

UK consumers impatient

Although new-car registration volumes in the UK have been severely disrupted by supply-chain challenges, demand remains strong. However, consumers who are unwilling to accept the long lead times necessary to take delivery of a new car are switching to the used-car market, says Jayson Whittington, Glass’s (part of Autovista Group) chief editor, cars and leisure vehicles.

Ordinarily, transactions of younger used cars demand would increase in this scenario but due to the impact of the pandemic last year, the volume of short-cycle business was significantly reduced and used examples are in very short supply. ‘Consumers are therefore turning to slightly older cars, increasing demand on a supply of used stock that is already under pressure,’ Whittington notes.

Consequently, used-car values in the UK have risen for seven consecutive months, with the average RV of a three-year-old car sitting 25.6% higher than in October last year.

Strong used retail demand continues in the UK, as demonstrated in the average time it took a dealer to retail a unit in October. At 33.8 days, this was 3.6 days faster than last year and over three weeks less than in any other country featured in this report. Dealers are, therefore, needing to replenish stock regularly, underpinning exceptionally strong wholesale activity.

‘Over the last month, 92% of auction stock sold on the first time of asking, underlining how strong current demand is and perhaps reflecting the shortage of used cars entering auction channels,’ Whittington adds.

View the October 2021 monthly market dashboard for the latest pricing, volume and stock-days data.

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Buying and charging electric vehicles takes a step forward in the UK

With each new model launch, the UK’s electrically-chargeable vehicle (EV) market is expanding. Alongside this, both private and fleet purchasers are seeing an increased number of services and infrastructure offerings.

One example of how things are changing is the offering of dedicated online sales platforms focusing solely on EV variants of brand lineups. This is a service offered by the new JustGoEV platform. The site offers up both new and used electrified vehicles, as well as charge-point and services mapping.

There is good news too for the UK’s commercial fleets, as an EDF subsidiary and carmaker Nissan launch a new charging service using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. This means businesses can consume low-carbon energy, make progress towards decarbonisation targets and reduce operating costs.

Electric online

UK consumers looking to buy a mild-hybrid (MHEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), or battery-electric vehicle (BEV) online can now do so at JustGoEV.co.uk. The site already hosts over 3,000 EVs through a network of over 6,000 dealers.

‘Our research shows us that the UK EV car parc is expected to top nine million vehicles by 2030 and that already 50% of car buyers are considering an EV of some description as their next purchase, so now is the perfect time to introduce the platform,’ co-founder Jack Woodgate said.

With the sale of new cars and vans powered solely by petrol or diesel coming to an end in the UK by 2030, the uptake of zero-emission transportation is set to grow exponentially. So JustGoEV is positioning itself to ride the incoming wave as consumers research and buy electrified models.

‘The EV tipping point is almost here,’ Woodgate said. ‘In the next three years, we are going to see plug-in and hybrid cars outselling petrol and diesel models, so it makes sense to have a marketplace for them and associated services as the EV market continues its rapid evolution.’

The site should benefit from the recent surge in online buying generated by the lockdown of physical dealerships during COVID-19. Networked dealerships should also prosper as JustGoEV behaves like a portal to their stocks of new and used EVs.

‘Almost eight out of 10 car buyers say they do most of their car-buying research online, so if a consumer is looking to make the leap to an EV, we are offering them a platform that filters out everything irrelevant to them and helps with common ownership hurdles, like installing a home-charge point,’ Woodgate added. ‘Respectively, we are also giving dealers and EV manufacturers a direct means of reaching customers who are in the market for an EV as their next car.’

Fleet-to-grid

The UK’s fleet operators also have cause for greater electric confidence as a new commercial V2G service is announced. Dreev, a joint venture between EDF and Nuvve, is partnering with Nissan to launch the offering. V2G technology, also known as bidirectional charging, allows electricity to flow two ways. EVs can charge their batteries when electricity is at its cheapest, and excess power can then also be sold back to the grid when necessary.

EDF’s V2G offering will include the installation of a two-way connected compact 11kW charger. Dependent on battery model, this unit will be capable of fully charging a Nissan Leaf in roughly three hours and 30 minutes. The package will also come with a dedicated Dreev app, which will outline a vehicle’s energy requirements and track and control charging in real-time.

‘Our hope is that forward-thinking businesses across the country will be persuaded to convert their traditional fleets to electric, providing them with both an environmental and economic advantage in an increasingly crowded market,’ said Philip Valarino, interim head of EV projects at EDF.

The offer is open to fleet owners of the Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 models. The companies predict this technology could save customers around £350 (€410) per charger each year, equating to roughly 9,000 miles (14,484km) of electric driving annually.

‘The Nissan Leaf, with more than half a million units already sold worldwide – is the only model today to allow V2G two-way charging,’ said Andrew Humberstone, managing director at Nissan Motor GB. ‘As such, the Nissan Leaf offers new economic opportunities for businesses that no other electric vehicle does today. We are delighted to be working with EDF on the deployment and democratisation of V2G technology, and in providing yet another reason for transport to electrify.’

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UK government reveals decarbonisation plan for cars, vans and HGVs

The UK government has published its transport-decarbonisation plan. It lays out a more detailed map for the country’s transport sector as it journeys towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, unveiled the plans in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26.

‘Transport is not just how you get around. It is something that fundamentally shapes our towns, cities and countryside, our living standards and our health,’ said Shapps. ‘It can shape all those things for good or for bad. Decarbonisation is not just some technocratic process. It’s about how we make sure that transport shapes quality of life and the economy in ways that are good.’

Plotting a roadmap

Earlier this year, the UK government confirmed it would begin a phased approach to zero-carbon-only registrations beginning in 2030. The new transport-decarbonisation plan not only solidifies, but builds on this roadmap.

By 2030, the sale of new cars and vans powered solely by petrol or diesel will end. By 2035, new vehicles must have no tailpipe emissions at all, ruling out all hybrids equipped with an internal-combustion engine (ICE). All new L-category vehicles will need to emit no tailpipe emissions (subject to consultation) by 2035 too. Then, by 2040, the sale of all non-zero-emission heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs) will come to an end, also subject to consultation.

So, by 2035, the UK could see an end to ICE-powered vehicles weighing from 3.5 to 26 tonnes. From 2040, this looks to extend upward beyond 26 tonnes and could be even earlier if deemed feasible.

Hoping to lead by example, the government brought forward its own target date to transfer its central fleet of 40,000 cars and vans over to zero-emission models by 2027, three years ahead of schedule. It also outlined its response to the smart-charging consultation. This will involve laying down legislation later this year to ensure all new private charge points meet smart-charging standards, which can save consumers money on their energy bills.

‘The transition to EVs is central to government’s net-zero commitment but will also increase demand on the electricity system. Smart charging can help mitigate these impacts,’ Shapps wrote in his statement to Parliament. ‘This legislation will play an important role in driving the uptake of smart technology, which can save consumers money on their energy bills.’

‘Accessible and affordable’

‘The automotive sector welcomes the publication of the transport-decarbonisation plan and associated consultations, which are necessary to create a clear and supportive framework to accelerate the transition to net-zero mobility,’ said the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It went on to explain that the industry is already delivering a continually-expanding range of electrically-chargeable vehicles (EVs), which are being bought in growing numbers. In fact, nearly 50,000 electrified units were registered last month in the UK, over half the amount of petrol-engine vehicles, gaining a market share of 19.6%.

But the society cautioned that achieving the net-zero target cannot be left solely to the automotive sector. Massive investment is still required in infrastructure development, demand for which is only accelerating. The SMMT points out the need for a plan and ambitious targets to deliver this essential component of electrification. Furthermore, this transition must not risk excluding consumers.

‘The electric revolution must be accessible and affordable for all. The right regulatory framework can give drivers the confidence to switch, and manufacturers the clarity they need to invest,’ the SMMT said. ‘However, the ambitions are incredibly high and the timeline tight, so any regulation must be backed by a package of measures that accelerate market uptake through consumer incentives, as well as an irreversible commitment to the expansion of charging infrastructure and rapid energy decarbonisation, so we’re not putting brown energy into green cars and vans.’

Criticism from haulage industry

While the SMMT was mostly positive, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) criticised the plans for decarbonising the UK’s HGV fleet. It pointed out the plans were too speculative, short in detail, and could be potentially damaging to business. ‘This proposal as it stands is unrealistic,’ said RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett. ‘These alternative HGVs do not yet exist – we do not know when they will and what they will cost.’

He went on to explain that for many haulage companies there are fears around the costs of new vehicles, and a collapse in resale values of existing units. The association explained that while it supports the ambition to decarbonise the UK, there is a need for affordable, inclusive and coherent market-driven policies.

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Glass’s One Minute Market Update – May 2021

With dealerships open again for two months following Lockdown-3, new car activity appears to be strengthening. Year-to-date registration volume now sits 42.5% ahead of last year according to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Of course, April and May 2020 only produced around 24,500 registrations in total, so it is no great surprise to see such an uplift. Compared to this point in 2019 the market is down by almost 31%, so business has definitely not returned to normal yet.

Some of the shortfall will be due to the time it takes between ordering and delivery, for those consumers who waited to benefit from a physical sales process. Due to this time lag, potentially only a small proportion of cars ordered just after lockdown easing will have been delivered, although stock availability will also be having an effect. As we look ahead to quarter three of 2021, Glass’s expects stock supply issues to intensify, with the widely reported shortage of semiconductors adding to COVID-19 related delays and complications.

Auction hammer prices were strong throughout May but have strengthened further in June. This will likely lead to unprecedented rises in residual values as Glass’s reflects the spike in wholesale activity. In May the volume of cars that sold on the first time of asking at auction was 85.3%, which is the highest first-time conversion rate since July last year, which was at the height of the bounce-back that followed the end of Lockdown-1.

The strength in the UK wholesale market is underpinned by strong and consistent retail demand. Ordinarily, demand begins to slow in the summer months as consumers focus switches towards holidays. However, May and June’s exceptional activity shows little sign of slowing and could intensify as consumers reflect on the prospect of no overseas holidays this summer, with some choosing to use unexpected disposable income to change their car, which will be welcomed by both new and used car dealers.

New Car Market Update May 2021

Following COVID-19 restriction easing, the recovery of the UK new car market continued in May. Indeed, May was the first full month that dealerships were allowed to open to physical customers this year. This, combined with the release of pent-up demand and improving business confidence boosted by the vaccination rollout, led to the market achieving 156,737 new car registrations in May according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

This was nearly eight times greater than May last year when the first lockdown was in full effect. A better comparison is against May 2019s pre-pandemic total, which shows a reduction of 14.7%, which on face value is not so positive but there were two fewer working days this year.

Once again, the Fleet market led the way with stronger growth than Retail. As business confidence returns, lease contracts that had previously been extended are now ending, and company cars are being replaced. Also, the switch to low and zero CO2 emitting company cars continues at pace, as drivers look to benefit from attractive benefit-in-kind taxation by switching to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

New car market sector split YTD graph May 2021

Data courtesy of SMMT

As the chart above shows, the fleet market has outperformed the other two sectors year to date.

The BEV market share declined from 12.0% a year ago to 8.4% in May, but this is due to the very low registrations and quirky nature of what was delivered last year. In reality, year-to-date market shares of hybrid and electrically chargeable vehicles continue to rise in the UK. In the first five months of the year, the petrol share of the market, including mild-hybrids was 60.4%, while diesel accounted for just 18% of all registrations so far. The combined share of hybrids and BEVs now exceeds the diesel share at 21.7%.

New car registrations fuel split graph May 2021

Data courtesy of SMMT

Outlook

Looking ahead to activity in June, Glass’s expects another positive new car registration total, despite some headwinds in the supply chain. The further easing of lockdown restrictions will boost business and consumer confidence further. Also, with foreign holidays looking unlikely this summer, some consumers will have accrued extra disposable income over the last year which may filter into new car purchases, especially considering that the used car market has seen unprecedented price rises over the last three months, narrowing the price walk to a new car.

New Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) Market Update – May 2021

A strong market for both new and used LCVs

May 2021 was another record-setting month for light commercial vehicle registrations with 29,354 new vehicles appearing on UK roads for the first time. This was the best May performance on record.

Registrations were up 289.3% versus the lockdown impacted May 2020 and up 4.7% on pre-pandemic levels. The main drivers for this level of LCV demand are from increasing home delivery vehicles and essential service delivery vehicles.

Breaking down the results highlighted huge increases for all sectors. Demand for vans under 2.0 tonnes rose by 384.2% whilst registrations in the between 2.0-2.5 tonne and 2.5-3.5 tonne sector improved by 294.7% and 263.8% respectively. The Pickup sector also recorded a 381.8% increase.

Ford secured a strong month with four of its product ranges in the top ten. The Ford Transit Custom was crowned best-selling van in the UK in May, with its big brother, the Ford Transit in second place. The Ford Ranger and Ford Transit Connect were in 7^th and 8^th place respectively. The Stellantis Group also returned a positive month with the Vauxhall Vivaro, Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner all positioned in the top ten.

Year to date growth has witnessed demand across all vehicle sectors, with registrations 99.3% higher than the same point last year. A total of 157,150 registrations reflects a market that is 4.0% up on the pre-pandemic five-year average. Year-to-date, Ford dominates the top ten registration results, with the Transit Custom, Transit, Transit Connect and Ranger making up over 50% of the total registrations.

Top five LCV registrations

The effects of the pandemic continue to distress the automotive industry. Further lockdowns and COVID restrictions in many European countries, continue to affect vehicle producing nations and the wider supply chain. Ongoing semi-conductor, steel, rubber and even wood shortages continue to compound the situation. With this fragile supply chain expected to last into 2022, there is still some way to go before the industry returns to normal. The last year has proved that the commercial vehicle sector is resilient to the changing world. However, with the LCV parc now at 4.6 million, the Government needs to incentivise fleets to make the switch away from diesel and into electric and hydrogen vehicles.

May used Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) overview

Driven by increasing demand for retail-ready LCVs, May has seen the used market remain strong, with first-time conversion rates increasing 1.1% to 87.4%. The limited numbers of sub-2-year old stock in May continues to drive trade buyers and franchised dealer groups to pursue the best examples, ensuring prices have remained strong.

Although remaining strong, the average all-age sales price was down £350 versus April and at its lowest since January this year. With the SMMT reporting another strong new registration month in May, there is hope that vehicle de-fleets will start to find their way into the wholesale market. Although this will improve the supply of stock into the used market, there are still delays for new vehicles entering the UK. As a result, used prices look set to remain high for the remainder of the year.

May in detail

Glass’s auction data shows the overall number of vehicle sales in May decreased by 1.76% versus April 2021, but recorded a 218.2% increase over twelve months ago.

Average sales prices paid in May decreased by 3.77% versus April but remain 23.27% higher than the same point last year. The average age of sold stock increased from 69.0 months in April to 75.3 months in May and is 15.9 months older than the same point last year.

Average mileages have reduced month on month, falling from 81,487 miles in April to 78,819 miles in May (-3.28%). The latest average mileage is 13,061 miles (+16.58%) higher than in May 2020. Glass’s continues to monitor the LCV market closely and has an open dialogue with auction houses, manufacturers, leasing and rental companies, independent traders and dealers as well as the main industry bodies. This information, combined with the wealth of knowledge in our CV team ensures Glass’s valuations remain relevant in the marketplace.

Originally written for Commercial Fleet.

Fiat to go all electric by 2030

Fiat will phase out internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from 2025, aiming to go all electric by the end of the decade. The move was confirmed in an environmental discussion between Fiat CEO and Stellantis CMO, Olivier François, and environmental architect and urban planner Stefano Boeri.

As one of the 14 subsidiary brands making up the newly-formed Stellantis group, this move towards electrification will put Fiat on course to lead the charge. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group merged at the beginning of this year and in April set a new electrification target. By the end of this decade, the group is aiming to generate 70% of its European passenger-car sales from electrically-chargeable vehicles (EVs). This is a significant increase on the 14% EV-share target for the current year.

Other carmakers have set similar goals. For example, Jaguar will go electric only by 2025, and Ford wants its entire European passenger-vehicle range to be zero-emissions capable by mid-2026. In the same year, Bentley hopes to become the first Volkswagen (VW) Group brand to commit to complete electrification. In March, both Volvo and Mini confirmed they would go electric-only by 2030.

New Renaissance

François and Boeri sat down in front of a camera for World Environment Day 2021 to discuss urban mobility and sustainable architecture. An automotive company and an architect might seem like a strange combination. But societal trends, increasing concern over environmental issues, and the fallout from COVID-19 had the pair considering a ‘New Renaissance.’ Combining green architecture like Boeri’s Bosco Verticale building, which holds 27,000 C02-absorbing plants, and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) like the Fiat 500 Electric holds the potential for greener cities.

François said that ‘the decision to launch the New 500 – electric and electric alone – was actually taken before COVID-19. Even then, we were already aware that the world could not take any more “compromises.” In fact, lockdown was only the latest of the warnings we have received.’ He explained that the pandemic was yet another reminder of the urgent need to act, and do something for the planet.

Another transformation

This has led the carmaker and its iconic 500 to add an important new word to its ‘mobility for all’ mission statement: ‘sustainable mobility for all.’ So, Fiat is looking to bring more affordable EVs to the market, ones with a price tag no bigger than an ICE-powered model. It hopes to do this as soon as possible, in line with the falling cost of batteries. ‘Between 2025 and 2030, our product line-up will gradually become electric-only. This will be a radical change for Fiat,’ François said.

To ensure that sustainable mobility can be accessed by all, Fiat will need to look beyond the vehicle itself. The carmaker has already recognised the need to make electric models more accessible through ‘innovation and new financial products.’ Given the larger price tags that accompany new EVs, shared mobility is an option many OEMs are exploring. Urban centres, where air pollution is a particular environmental issue, hold the potential for a new take on transport, with consumers paying for the mode they need when they need it. Why own a car when you can pay to access an EV, clean public transport, or a micro-mobility solution?

Whether owned by the consumer or not, these EVs will also need access to infrastructure. Fiat points out that private charging points at apartment buildings, as well as the penetration of fast-charging stations, must increase. Beyond adapting what already exists, thought must go into the buildings of the future to ensure they are capable of supporting this move towards electromobility. This means reassessing urban planning, and considering how designing buildings today might impact the roads tomorrow.

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Fuel Type: Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Styling beyond the price

Comfortable and practical

Handling against its competition

BEVs struggle on used-car market

Selling BEVs takes dealers longer

Changing expectations

Scenario analysis

RV pressure expected in Austria

BEVs shaken in France

Market sensitivity in Germany

Stability indicated in Italy

Breathing space for Spain

Transactions slow in Switzerland

Mixed electric fortunes in UK

Rapid rise continues

Consequential consumer confidence

Scenario analysis

Modest pricing decline in Austria

Buyers await lower prices in France

EVs under pressure in Germany

‘Awareness of BEVs is growing’ in Italy

Lack of stock ‘weighing down’ Spain

RVs stable in Switzerland despite demand

RVs strengthen in UK, except for BEVs

Electrifying the E-segment

Converting E-Class owners

Not all items qualify for features on demand

Pitfalls for features on demand

Not fully aligned

Unprecedented change

Shake-up

Not all similarities are pleasing

Is brand awareness enough?

High price positioning

City cars in jeopardy

Higher inflation in eastern-European countries

Inflation outlook above 6% in Europe

Volkswagen Group prices higher than others

Modest improvement in the second half

Disruption persists in 2023

Three body styles in one model

Benchmark new-car price

TCO driven by depreciation

Residual values are a major advantage

Strong new-car registrations and RVs in Eastern Europe

An option for car fleets

Not evoking desirability

Outlook

A strong market for both new and used LCVs

Top five LCV registrations

May used Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) overview

May in detail