We’d begin to get some nice used electrical automotive offers beginning in 2026 as EV lease returns are anticipated to surge in an enormous manner.
Whereas the EV revolution has been occurring for over a decade now, the used EV market remains to be fairly immature as a result of EVs have solely been delivered in giant volumes for the previous couple of years.
2026. That’s going to be the yr of the used EV.
J.D. Energy is out with a brand new report that states an anticipated 230% enhance in electrical automobile lease return in 2026:
Lease volumes for brand new EVs surged 355% all through 2023 and 88% via September 2024. Franchise-only (excluding Tesla) EV lease volumes have been even greater, rising 438% all through 2023 and 109% via September 2024. Consequently, returning EV lease volumes are projected to dip barely in 2025 earlier than spiking 230% in 2026. This pattern runs counter to what’s occurring industry-wide the place complete lease volumes for gas-powered autos have been decrease than pre-pandemic ranges, creating a possible scarcity in used-vehicle availability in 2025 and 2026.
After projections for a roughly flat yr in 2025, the report expects an enormous enhance in 2026 primarily based on present lease information:
The explanation for the surge is sort of easy. The extremely reported “lease loophole” to get entry to the tax credit score has resulted in a surge of EV leases:
Due largely to a provision within the federal Clear Automobile Tax Credit score, which permits auto sellers to move alongside a $7,500 tax credit score to all EV lessees, almost half (46%) of all franchise EV gross sales and 21% of complete EV gross sales (together with Tesla) in 2023 have been leases. That pattern continued all through the primary 9 months of 2024, with the lease share of complete franchise and Tesla EV quantity reaching 30%. In the meantime, lease volumes for gas-powered autos have been decrease than pre-pandemic ranges. Business-wide, simply 2.4 million gas-powered autos have been leased in 2023. Whereas that represents a 17% enhance from 2022, it’s nonetheless significantly decrease than the pre-pandemic common of greater than three million leases yearly, which is able to seemingly create a scarcity in used-vehicle availability in 2025 and 2026.
Whereas a few of these leasers are going to maintain their autos, many are going to present them again and improve, leading to a surge of used EVs obtainable on the market.
Used EV costs have already come down enormously, partly as a result of Tesla slashing costs to ensure that demand to maintain up towards its quickly rising manufacturing capability between 2020-2023.
Now, these recent “new” used EVs to hit the market in 2026 are seemingly going to place a number of strain on used EV costs.
Electrek’s Take
I’m excited for extra mature used automotive markets even when it signifies that EV worth will drop in 2026.
Most individuals purchase used automobiles and to this point, they’ve been fairly restricted of their EV choices. It does sound like 2026 would be the yr when the used EV market will develop into one thing extra impactful, and lower-income individuals will be capable of get off of gasoline.
It’s going to be an enormous step within the EV revolution.
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