GIEVSS publishes a new study on the used electric vehicle market and sets out recommendations in a strategic roadmap
GIEVSS, with the support of sector partners and market data specialists, presents an in-depth study dedicated to the used electric vehicle market, including analysis, buyer profiles, expert interviews, recommendations and a complete survey. As countries move toward a largely electrified vehicle fleet by 2050, used electric vehicles are an essential lever for accelerating the transition and making EVs part of everyday buying habits.
Read the used electric vehicle market study
A key issue for democratizing electric mobility
"The development of a used electric vehicle market is an essential condition for democratizing electric mobility. Motivations and barriers have been identified, and so have the levers for action. For example, 55% of buyers currently express concern about battery condition or lifespan. Our recommendation to systematize a battery state-of-health certificate directly responds to this concern. It is now up to us, as an ecosystem, to activate these recommendations and build the smoothest possible market in support of purchasing power."
A fast-growing market that is still taking shape
Between January 2021 and December 2024, the used electric vehicle market grew strongly, with sales volumes multiplied by seven. In December 2024, used electric vehicles represented nearly 10% of recent used vehicle sales, with particularly strong momentum among city cars and multipurpose vehicles.
Despite this momentum, the market still faces several challenges: an average resale time longer than that of internal combustion vehicles, shorter ownership periods and declining residual values. After three years, the average price of used electric vehicles falls below a key threshold, becoming lower than comparable combustion vehicles.
Significant potential, held back by lack of confidence and information
While nearly one in two buyers say they are ready to consider a used electric vehicle, these vehicles still account for only a limited share of overall used transactions. The survey carried out with market partners shows that buyer motivations align with the real benefits of electric vehicles, including lower energy and maintenance costs. However, several barriers continue to weigh on the market: the perception of a high purchase price and the lack of transparency around battery condition.
*Survey period: 25 April 2025 to 30 April 2025, sample of 1,000 used-car purchase intenders surveyed about buying a used vehicle.
Three structural recommendations to democratize used electric vehicles
To structure the market sustainably and remove these barriers, the study sets out a series of concrete recommendations organized around three priorities:
1 - Better inform and support buyers
- Deploy educational campaigns on the benefits of used electric vehicles and battery topics;
- Strengthen change management for, and through, used-vehicle sales teams;
- Develop decision-support tools accessible to the general public.
2 - Make used electric vehicles an economically attractive option
- Communicate widely on total cost of ownership, which is more favorable than that of a combustion vehicle;
- Introduce targeted financial support such as conversion incentives or zero-interest loans;
- Systematically offer used electric vehicles alongside used combustion vehicles.
3 - Strengthen transparency and confidence around the battery
- Systematically display battery state of health in advertisements;
- Require a battery state-of-health report at the point of sale;
- Standardize diagnostic methods and encourage long-duration warranty arrangements.
GIEVSS calls on public and private actors to take up these recommendations now and make development of this market a pillar of the electric vehicle democratization strategy.
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