What is it about older diesel cars that keeps them so popular in used cars? The data speaks for itself.

Sales of used passenger cars and SUVs totaled 1,264,950 units through July, representing a 5.2% increase over the same period last year, according to data from industry associations GANVAM (official and independent distributors) and Faconauto (dealers). In July alone, sales grew 5.8% to 193,933 units, meaning that for every new vehicle sold, two used vehicles are sold.

Analyzed by age, the data shows how passenger cars less than one year old dominated the market in July, with a 16% increase and a total of 9,812 units. Models between one and three years old followed, with a 15.7% increase, reaching 16,226 units sold.

This emphasis on newer models explains why, when analyzing the sales channel, rental sales were the most significant in July. Specifically, their sales increased by 19.1% last month. Imports, meanwhile, grew by almost 35% in July, reaching 13,707 units, although imported models account for only 7% of the total in the Spanish used market.

In this context, sales of models up to five years old (an important lever for boosting fleet rejuvenation) have grown by 7.5% so far this year and now account for almost 26% of the total, with 325,000 units. In the opinion of industry associations, this pace should be further boosted by incentivizing the purchase of these models up to five years old through scrappage plans.

The bulk of used car sales continues to be concentrated in models over 15 years old, the main focus of private-to-peer transactions. Thus, after growing 7.3% in June and accumulating a 3.5% increase so far this year, they account for more than 41% of total sales, with a volume of 520,917 units through July.

Second-hand electrified vehicles account for 3% of the market.

Regarding energy sources, diesel used vehicle sales (which accounted for 51% of total sales) remained stable through July, at 645,529 units. Gasoline vehicles, meanwhile, have increased their sales by 4.3% so far this year, with a total of 459,887 units sold, representing 36.4% of the total market.

Regarding alternative propulsion systems, sales of used pure electric passenger cars continued their upward trend, rising 48.8% through July, with a total of 15,589 units sold, representing 1.2% of the total market. Sales of used plug-in hybrids (gasoline) increased by 41.1%, reaching a total of 23,006 units, representing 1.8% of the total market.