The market for used cars in Poland is witnessing rapid growth, with a 13% year-on-year increase in vehicles listed for sale during the first half of 2023. This surge constitutes nearly 57% of the total number of advertisements posted throughout the entirety of 2022. Although still around 7% less compared to 2019, the market shows signs of recovery from the pandemic’s impact, even amid the persistently rising prices. Let’s delve into the key highlights of the first half of 2023, as summarized by autobaza.pl.
Market Recovery and Increased Listings
The used car market in Poland is gradually regaining its pre-pandemic momentum. According to autobaza.pl, more than 1.05 million vehicles were listed for sale on classified portals in the first half of the current year, surpassing the figure for the same period in 2022.
Close to 57% of used cars offered for sale in the first half of 2023 were priced between 25,000 and 150,000 PLN, marking an increase of over 3.5 percentage points from the previous year. Conversely, the availability of cars priced below 25,000 PLN declined by more than 4 percentage points year-on-year. The most prevalent price range during the current year’s initial months was 25,000 to 50,000 PLN, whereas in the corresponding period of 2022, vehicles priced between 10,000 and 25,000 PLN dominated the market.
Inflationary Impact on the Automotive Sector
“Inflation and its subsequent rise in prices are affecting the automotive industry, evident from the sales structure in the used car market. Additionally, we are still experiencing the consequences of limited supply of both new and second-hand vehicles due to recent events. Now, with the number of listings on the rise again, we can expect minor price drops, but significant reductions are not to be anticipated,”
remarks Natalia Sokołowska, an expert from autobaza.pl.
Popular Brands and Models – A Predictable Affair
The first half of 2023 did not witness significant changes in the ranking of the most frequently sold car models and brands year-on-year. The podium remained unchanged with Opel Astra (1st position), BMW Series 3 (2nd position), and Volkswagen Golf (3rd position), although the leader and runner-up swapped places from the previous year. As in the previous year, the most commonly spotted brands among sale advertisements were Volkswagen (1st position), Opel (2nd position), and Ford (3rd position).
Fuel Types and Green Alternatives
Diesel and petrol cars continue to dominate the market, with diesel slightly surpassing petrol engines (46.95% vs. 45.37%) during H1 2023. However, there is a noticeable increase in the availability of used electric and hybrid cars, albeit still at modest shares of 0.84% and 2.43%, respectively, of all vehicles listed for sale during H1 2023. This growth is likely to continue, given the rising number of eco-friendly cars entering the secondary market.
Autoiso Sp. z o.o., the owner of autobaza.pl, has been providing customers with credible vehicle history data for two decades. Collaborating with reputable entities such as the Dutch foundation Nationale Auto Pas (NAP) and holding certified access to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) in the USA, autobaza.pl aggregates data from various trustworthy sources. Today, it stands as the largest independent VIN database with vehicle histories in the European market, significantly impacting the quality of vehicles offered in the used car market in Poland.