The popularity of Chinese new entrants will be the number one trend in the used-car market in 2026, say dealers in new research.
January’s Startline Used Car Tracker shows more than half (53%) believe this will be a major development, followed by the continuing move to electric cars (50%) and ongoing shortages of good quality stock (38%).
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said, “The popularity of Chinese new entrants has been very apparent in the last year or so, with increasing numbers of their cars appearing on our roads and growing UK franchise dealer networks.
“They will inevitably start to appear on the used market in higher volumes and dealers clearly believe this could have a substantial impact, probably both in terms of their appeal to buyers and the effect on the wider manufacturer sector.
“The other significant issues mentioned here – electrification and stock shortages – are more established but no less substantial. Especially, the quantity of used electric cars available is growing and more dealers are starting to retail them successfully.”
Further factors rated by respondents included increasing dealer use of AI (37%), higher buyer interest in plug-in hybrids (35%), availability of motor finance (25%) and the government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate driving electric car sale targets (15%).
Paul added, “This is a diverse set of results, reflecting the wide range of issues currently facing dealers. Perhaps the most notable development is their interest in AI, with many respondents apparently believing this is a tool with much potential.
“Growing consumer interest in plug-in hybrids is also significant. Dealers increasingly view these as a stepping stone technology to full electrification for many motorists, and there is a strong expectation that demand will rise.”
China’s BYD car maker is now the world’s biggest manufacturer of electric cars, overtaking America’s Tesla company and other Far East EV producers will only accelerate the trend towards zero emissions and potentially cause serious concerns for Europe’s legend car brands.
Some EU based manufacturers are now so worried by their investments in electric cars and their slow sales that they have recalculated the phase out of petrol engined cars and will instead continue to make them along with mild and plug-in hybrid models.
