The average price of a used car in Ukraine has dropped to $6,500: what’s happening in the market
13 June 10:12
The average price of a used car in Ukraine today is about $6,500, and nearly 80% of the market consists of cars priced at up to $10,000. At the same time, over the years of full-scale war, the Ukrainian auto market has undergone not only structural but also psychological changes. Stanislav Buchatsky, co-founder and director of the Automotive Market Research Institute, spoke about this in an interview with Delo.ua, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
Ukrainians have started to consider more than just the price of a car
Whereas a car was previously often seen as a status symbol or an investment, most buyers now view it primarily as a practical means of transportation.
“About 80% of the market consists of cars priced under $10,000, and the median price of a used car is around $6,500. The premium segment accounts for only 1.5–2% of the market,” Buchatsky noted.
According to the expert, buyers are increasingly evaluating not only the purchase price of a car but also the total cost of ownership. This includes costs for fuel, maintenance, repairs, and the model’s reliability. That is why Ukrainians are increasingly turning away from large engines and cars that are expensive to maintain.
“In the past, people mainly looked at the price of the car. Now they calculate the total cost of ownership. This is a sign of a more mature market,” he explained.
The used car market is many times larger than the new car market
According to estimates by the Automotive Market Research Institute, about 5,000 new cars are sold in Ukraine every month.
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At the same time, the domestic used car market generates 80,000–100,000 resales per month, and another 20,000–30,000 cars are imported from abroad each month.
That is why the used car segment effectively sets the trends for the entire Ukrainian auto market.
The premium segment is not growing even during the war
Despite the widespread perception that the number of expensive cars on the roads is increasing, the premium segment’s share remains stable—at 1.5–2%.
According to Buchatsky, luxury cars take longer to sell than mass-market models, indicating limited demand even among affluent buyers.
“If you look at the numbers, the luxury car market isn’t growing. Its share has remained stable at around 1.5–2% of the total market,” he noted.
Ukraine lags behind Europe in terms of car ownership
According to estimates by the Automotive Market Research Institute, there are approximately 260–300 cars per 1,000 residents in Ukraine. By comparison, the average in European Union countries is about 600 cars per 1,000 residents.
The expert cites the underdeveloped car loan and leasing markets as one of the main reasons for this gap.
“The average price of a car in Ukraine is about $6,500. That’s the cash people have on hand. In Europe, a significant portion of cars are purchased through financing,” explained Stanislav Buchatsky.
According to him, the development of credit and leasing programs could become one of the main drivers of growth for the Ukrainian auto market in the future.
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