I will hold it – Newspaper Kommersant No. 221 (7422) dated 11/29/2022

The decline in demand for used cars in Russia is intensifying, having exceeded the value of October in November. But the situation with prices is less clear: a number of market participants see their stabilization, while others record a fall, and sometimes even an increase. The average price may increase due to actually new cars with minimal mileage brought into the country. At the same time, the market still lacks offers of new cars up to three years old and priced up to 2 million rubles. Analysts note that in the current unstable environment, supply liquidity is generally declining, and they expect prices to decline against the backdrop of a seasonal drop in demand in December-January.

Demand for used cars in the Russian Federation in November decreased by 11% compared to the previous month, after falling by 8% in October compared to September, calculated in the automotive portal “Drom”. The October data are similar to the sales dynamics estimated by Avtostat. According to him, in October the market of used passenger cars amounted to 437 thousand units, which is 23.8% less than a year earlier, and 5% worse than the result of September.

Demand for used cars has been falling since the end of September, they say in Droma, but the supply is holding at about the same level, and the cost has not yet decreased. In November, the average cost of a used car, according to the company, even increased by 2.6% compared to the previous month, amounting to 970 thousand rubles as of November 27. (in October – 945 thousand rubles, in September – 967 thousand rubles). “Cars over 22 years old are sold for an average of 242 thousand rubles, those aged 14 to 22 years old – for 422 thousand rubles, from 9 to 13 years old – for 751 thousand rubles, from 4 to 8 years old – for RUB 1.4 million You can become the owner of a three-year-old for an average of 2.7 million rubles, ”the Droma specified.

“For some models, there is a selective washout (sale) of cheaper versions, and it seems that prices are even rising. But in fact, compared, for example, with September, the cost of used cars has not changed,” says the director of Avilon. Used cars” Nikolai Baskakov.

The top manager adds that the offer on the secondary market has not expanded compared to the beginning of autumn. “Now, as expected, there are not enough “fresh” models – up to three years old and costing 1 million rubles. The offer for more expensive models, of course, is noticeably wider,” explains Mr. Baskakov. in replenishing dealer warehouses, etc.)”. But buyers still have a choice today, the dealer believes.

Vladimir Zhelobov, sales director for used cars at Avtodom Group of Companies and Avtospetstsentr Group of Companies, notes that prices for expensive cars (premium and luxury) have risen more than in the mass segment, but demand for them is lower. The cost of cars up to 2 million rubles. stabilized, adds the top manager. But in general, prices depend on what the purchase price of the car was, which market player and how it was acquired, says Mr. Zhelobov.

Avto.ru admits that the situation with prices is influenced, among other things, by cars with low mileage (in fact, new cars imported through parallel imports), which have actively begun to be put up for sale as used ones. According to the portal, average prices have increased by 10% since June, mainly due to offers from professional sellers.

Estimates of the dynamics of the cost of used cars in general vary greatly. For example, Avtostat calculated that the average price of a used car in November fell by 2.5% compared to October, amounting to almost 1.2 million rubles. They explained that fresher and more expensive cars are “washed out of the market more actively.”

There are fewer and fewer liquid offers on the secondary market due to the reluctance of Russians to sell their existing car in the face of a shortage of new models, says Denis Migal, CEO of the Fresh Auto automotive marketplace. Therefore, he believes, prices in the used car segment may decrease by the end of the year. Droma analyst Sergei Lagurev agrees that some sellers will be forced to cut prices, as demand tends to be low in December and January.

Olga Nikitina