Common automotive costs proceed to be pulled down by underpricing of exceptionally excessive demand inventory, fuelled by current traits in wholesale values, based on Auto Dealer’s Retail Worth Index which reveals a drop of -7.5% year-on-year (YoY) and like-for-like in January.

The used automotive market nonetheless noticed a assured begin to the brand new yr, with each transactions and shopper demand recording development in January,

Ranges of shopper demand on Auto Dealer remained buoyant in January, rising 6.1% YoY, and effectively forward of provide, which recorded a development of simply 1.2%. Because of this, Auto Dealer’s Market Well being metric, which assesses potential market profitability primarily based on provide and demand dynamics, rose to a wholesome 4.8% on January 2023.

Sturdy shopper urge for food was additionally evident within the document visitors to Auto Dealer’s market, which final month noticed a complete of over 85.5 million cross platform visits; an enormous 27.5% improve on December, and 6.4% on the 80.4 million recorded in January 2023 – a document on the time.

This demand was translated into transactions, with early indications from Auto Dealer’s retail gross sales information suggesting a 1.6% improve in used automotive gross sales in comparison with final yr. 

Regardless of such sturdy market fundamentals, nonetheless, a proportion of high-demand inventory continues to be being under-priced on Auto Dealer, though reassuringly, at a slowing fee from current highs. Presently, circa 46,000 vehicles with a excessive Retail Score rating – a singular, machine studying derived measure of how briskly a automotive is more likely to promote if priced at its market worth – of over 61 have been marketed under their market common from the primary day of being listed. Because of this, a possible revenue of round £30m is being missed.

Wanting on the information at a extra granular stage reveals that lots of even probably the most in-demand autos out there are being priced under their retail worth. In reality, 3,400 retailers are selecting to listing circa 9,300 of the ‘best-of-the-best’ vehicles – with a Retail Score above 81 – on Auto Dealer under 95% of their respective market common. It represents a possible revenue alternative for retailers of circa £8m.  

Nuanced retail market

Highlighting the nuance within the retail market, the typical worth of sub three-year-old (£28,031) vehicles are down -9.7% YoY (hampered by the continued de-fleeting of the circa 750,000 electrical autos offered during the last three years), while these aged 3-5-years (£19,114) and 5-10-years (£13,352) noticed a decline of -9.2% and -4.8% respectively. Used vehicles aged over 10-years-old, nonetheless, are nonetheless recording constructive worth development, with 10–15-year-old autos up 3.7% YoY to £6,457.

Taking a look at gasoline sort, costs for electrical autos are down -21.8% YoY (£28,836), while petrol (£15,256) and diesel (£15,111) are down -6.2% and -5.8% respectively. That is regardless of very beneficial market dynamics; throughout all gasoline varieties, ranges of demand development is outpacing provide, which underneath regular circumstances would preserve worth stability. That is particularly evident in electrical autos, the place demand development has elevated a large 65%, while ranges of provide, is down -2.4%, leading to Auto Dealer’s Market Well being metric rising a whopping 69%. 

Commenting, Richard Walker, Auto Dealer’s information & perception director, mentioned: “In addition to our personal metrics, it’s reassuring to see broader financial indicators pointing to secure and sturdy market circumstances, together with the newest shopper confidence information, which reached a two-year excessive in January. Though fewer than we’ve seen beforehand, given such constructive market fundamentals, it’s disappointing to nonetheless see inventory being priced underneath their true market worth, significantly what we’d name the best-of-the-best. By not making use of a retail-back strategy to pricing, retailers are prone to promoting themselves quick and lacking out on vital revenue alternatives.” 

High 10 used automotive worth development (all gasoline varieties) | January 2024 vs January 2023 like-for-like

High 10 used automotive worth contraction (all gasoline varieties) | January 2024 vs January 2023 like-for-like