“The used car market has bounced back, with sales surpassing two million in Q1 for the first time since before the pandemic. This is in contrast to the new car sector which has struggled for much of the year so far” said Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), commenting on the latest SMMT’s used car figures. The used car market experienced growth of 2.7% in Q1 2025, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of year-on-year expansion. A total of 2,020,990 transactions occurred in the quarter, the first-time sales have breached two million in the first quarter since before the pandemic. Used battery electric vehicles (BEVs) recorded the highest growth, increasing by 58.5% to 65,580 units and achieving a record market share to date of 3.3%. Sales of plug-in hybrids and hybrids also saw significant growth, rising by 14.0% and 30.2% respectively. Petrol remained the best-selling fuel type, rising 2.1% to 1,149,855 units, while diesel vehicles, at 679,739 units, saw a decline of -3.1%. Combined, petrol and diesel vehicles saw their combined market share fall 2.4% on Q1 2024. Sue Robinson added: “The surge in demand for used battery electric models demonstrates growing consumer confidence in zero-emission mobility, highlighting the importance of continued investment in charging infrastructure and supportive policies to maintain this momentum. “This resilience in the used car market persists even in the face of ongoing political and economic turbulence and there are positive signs that the used car market will continue its strong momentum throughout 2025.”