Second-hand car buyers are looking to save petrol too
Australia’s newfound love for hybrid cars is impacting the second-hand market; Thousands more low-emission vehicles are changing hands and sales of pure gasoline models are decreasing.
The Australian Automotive Dealers Association and AutoGrab revealed the trend on Tuesday; Figures showed that used hybrid car sales increased by 37 percent in October.
While electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales also increased throughout the month, there was a slight decrease in gasoline vehicle sales.
The data reflects similar trends in Australia’s new car market, which has seen growth for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and comes despite the removal of fringe benefits tax exemption for hybrid cars in April.
The Automotive Insights Report showed that drivers purchased more used vehicles in October than the previous month, with sales rising 2.8 percent to more than 206,000.
Like the new car market, SUVs were the most popular type of vehicle sold during the month, accounting for 43 percent of sales; however, passenger vehicles remained competitive, representing 35 percent of the market.
Hybrid cars recorded the biggest sales increase in October; Plug-in hybrids increased by 50.6 percent compared to September, and hybrids increased by 37.3 percent.
By comparison, gasoline vehicle sales fell 0.3 percent, while diesel vehicles rose only 2.4 percent, despite representing the largest segment of the market.
Association president James Voortman said data proved Australian drivers were increasingly choosing fuel-efficient vehicles, which could reduce operating costs and emissions.
“Australians are buying the vehicles that best suit their needs, whether it’s a hybrid for everyday efficiency, a diesel or electric vehicle for towing. But there’s a definite trend towards more sustainable choices,” he said.
“Hybrid vehicles offer this middle ground, with proven technology that is suitable for everyday driving and reflects growing environmental awareness.”
According to the report, the popularity of second-hand electric vehicles also increased in October and sales increased by 7.9 percent.
The figures also showed that battery-powered vehicles retained more of their value on the second-hand market (80.8%), with Tesla being among the two best-selling electric vehicles with the Model 3 and Model Y, followed by BYD’s Atto 3.
Two utes took the title of best-selling used vehicle overall (Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux respectively) but a number of passenger cars also made the top 10, including the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30.
