NEW YORK: It’s early, but there are signs Tesla Inc.’s Model 3 could be as exceptional in the used market as it has been in the new-car world.
The sedan has sold at volumes no other electric vehicle has come close to reaching, turning Tesla into the most valuable auto company in the world. But it takes a while to see how well a car performs on the used market - owners typically hold onto their wheels for at least a few years.
Car-shopping websites still have small samples sizes to work with for how used Model 3s are doing, but so far the data are extremely encouraging.
The sedans are retaining much more of their value than small luxury vehicles and selling quickly once owners list them for sale.
“If you’re looking for a used Audi A4, you have other comparable options like the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Lexus IS,” said George Augustaitis, director of automotive industry and economic analysis at CarGurus Inc. “If you’re looking for a Model 3, there’s no substitute.”
If used Model 3s retain their value anywhere near as well as the few that have hit the used market so far, the sedan will break the mold for EVs all over again. Tesla’s success selling new cars has almost quintupled its stock price this year, sending its market value soaring to US$382 billion.
Early plug-in models such as the Nissan LEAF and BMW i3 depreciated much faster than conventional cars. Demand was low, driving range was limited and battery degradation was a concern.
Low residual value - the amount cars are worth after a few years of ownership - was one of many factors holding back wider adoption of EVs.
But TrueCar Inc.’s outlook is for vast improvement, driven in large part by the Model 3. The company’s ALG unit forecasts that the premium electric-car segment will go from currently having the lowest auction-value retention after three years to the fourth-highest 36 months from now.
Used Model 3s took just 29.3 days to sell on average from March through June, according to iSeeCars.com. The Tesla sedan was the fastest-selling used car the vehicle-listing aggregator tracked during that span.
Three-year-old models depreciated by just 10.2% on average, retaining much more of their value than small luxury vehicles the site analyzed.
Tesla’s ability to deliver over-the-air software updates are likely helping its cause.
“You’ll frequently hear people say, ‘The car I own is better than the one I purchased,’” said Gene Munster, a managing partner at venture capital firm Loup Ventures.
This has helped limit the supply of used Model 3s.
“There still aren’t a lot of Teslas in the aftermarket,” said George Chamoun, chief executive officer of ACV Auctions. Some independent used-car dealers don’t sell them, but he expects this to change.
ACV sold triple the number of Teslas in July compared with the beginning of this year, and the average number of bids for the cars are 20% more than for the rest of the company’s inventory.
“Demand is outpacing the limited supply,” CarGurus’s Augustaitis said of the Model 3. “Its range and tech and price point are still unique.”
