Used diesel cars are finding it increasingly difficult to find new owners in Germany. According to data from the service provider Deutsche Automobil Treuhand (DAT), reported by “Der Spiegel”, vehicles sold in September spent an average of 98 days waiting before they were sold.
This figure is an increase from August, when the average waiting time was 92 days. For comparison, electric cars sold in September had an average waiting period of 72 days, while gasoline cars took 87 days. DAT spokespersons noted that diesel car sellers previously experienced similar long holding periods only around 2017, during the diesel crisis. The longest waiting times for diesel vehicles were seen recently during the COVID crisis in May and June 2020.
The market challenges are linked to external factors, as diesel fuel on German pumps has generally been more expensive than gasoline since the summer. Globally, diesel has become scarcer due to disruptions in transport routes and refinery outages caused by the war, as well as the initial attack by the US and Israel on Iran. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is also impacting the market.
In terms of value depreciation, a three-year-old diesel car achieved 57.5 percent of its original list price in September, compared to 61.5 percent in the previous year. Three-year-old gasoline cars dropped to 59.1 percent (down from 63.1 percent last year), while three-year-old electric cars reached 51.7 percent (up from 49.2 percent the previous year).
