USED VEHICLE MARKET HOLDS FIRM DESPITE SEASONAL CHALLENGES

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 14 May 2025

USED VEHICLE MARKET HOLDS FIRM DESPITE SEASONAL CHALLENGES

The April 2025 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), powered by Australia’s leading automotive platform AutoGrab indicates a slight dip in the used car market, largely attributed to the impact of public holidays during April. Despite this seasonal slowdown, dealer market presence has strengthened notably compared to the same period in the previous year.

Key Highlights from April 2025:

• Stable Used Vehicle Listings: The national count of used vehicle listings reached 310,054, experiencing a minor month-on-month decline of 0.6%.
• Drop in Sales Volume: The month recorded a total of 182,827 used vehicle sales, reflecting an 8.8% decrease from March figures. The most significant declines were seen in the ACT (-18.3%), NSW (-12.7%), and VIC (-11.7%).
• Strong Dealer Market Performance: Dealers accounted for 52.5% of all listings and 45.4% of used car sales, showcasing a robust annual growth of 12.9% and 10.5%, respectively. This surge highlights dealers’ continued dominance in the digital space, leveraging advanced tools and strong consumer trust.
• Enhanced Sales Efficiency: Average days to sell decreased to 49.7, down from 51.3 in March, indicating improved vehicle turnover rates.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Market Insights:

EVs continued to gain traction, with active listings rising by 7.1% and sales increasing by 8.4% month-on-month. The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 remained top performers, with the Model Y emerging as one of the most rapidly sold dealer vehicles during April.

 Quotes attributable to Saxon Odgers, Chief Commercial Officer AutoGrab

April’s used vehicle market saw a seasonal slowdown, with national transactions declining 8.8% month-on-month to 182,827 units. Despite the overall dip, dealer activity emerged as a clear growth driver.

Dealers accounted for 52.5% of all listings and 45.4% of used vehicle sales — up 12.9 and 10.5 percentage points year-on-year, respectively — highlighting the growing role of structured inventory management, digital retailing capabilities, and consumer trust in dealer-led transactions.

Electric vehicles remained a standout segment, defying broader trends with a 7.1% rise in listings and an 8.4% increase in sales compared to March.

The EV Used vehicle market is showing encouraging signs which, as a result should support a stronger residual valuation price supporting dealerships confidence in retailing and lenders having a better sense of risk.

The full report published in conjunction with the Australian Automotive Dealers Association is available below.

media@autograb.com.au

Contact: Paul Price 0400 507 023