German used car market declines further

The German used car market continued its downward trend in September 2026, with 533,447 transactions recorded—a 4.8 percent drop compared to the same period in the previous year. This decline marks the ninth consecutive month of reduced activity in the sector.

Overall sales show modest decline

After nine months of activity, the used car market in Germany has experienced an overall decline of 2.9 percent, with total sales estimated at 4,806,866 units. This reflects a continued shift in consumer preferences and market dynamics.

Gasoline and diesel cars see significant drops

Used gasoline cars saw an 8 percent drop in September, with 298,600 units sold, and a 6.3 percent decline since January, totaling 2,840,660 units. Used diesel cars also faced a steep decline, with an 11.1 percent decrease in September, reaching just over 131,000 units.

Electric and hybrid vehicles show growth

Electric vehicles have seen growth in the used car market, with 30,738 used electric cars sold in September—a 36.1 percent increase. Hybrid vehicles also contributed to the growth, with 69,000 units sold in September and a cumulative total of 614,210 transactions since January, up 13 percent.

Brand performance varies significantly

Volkswagen saw a 2 percent decline in transactions over nine months, recording 994,433 units. Mercedes experienced a more significant drop of 6.4 percent, with 490,420 units sold. Opel, the third-largest force in the German used car market, showed a smaller decline of 1.9 percent, with 438,260 units.

French brands show mixed results

Among French brands, Peugeot saw a slight increase of 0.6 percent, with 118,226 units sold. Renault and Citroën performed poorly, with Renault declining by 7.4 percent to 146,372 units and Citroën dropping by 2.5 percent to 74,000 units.