Used Car Sales to Drop in 2025 Despite Abundant Stock

KatadataOTO – 2025 is not only a difficult year for new car manufacturers but also for used vehicle dealers. This is because the used vehicle market has also experienced a significant decline compared to the previous year.

Based on OLX's internal data, used car sales from January to September 2025 fell by 11 percent from the same period in 2024. This situation is caused by weakening purchasing power and stricter credit requirements.

“2025 is a challenging year. New car sales have declined, while used cars are also affected due to purchasing power and increasingly strict credit approvals,” said Agung Iskandar, Director of OLX Indonesia.

Interestingly, amidst sluggish car sales, the number of vehicles offered has actually increased by 2 percent. This indicates that more people are selling their cars, but buying interest is decreasing.

Photo : Special

“More people want to sell their cars, but the number of buyers is actually decreasing. One of the factors is that the minimum down payment and credit interest rates this year are higher than in 2024,” he explained.

He also revealed that household income growth is much smaller than the increase in car prices. This situation is considered one of the factors behind the decline in sales.

“Since 2019, household income has only increased by about 7.2 percent, while the prices of both new and used cars have grown by more than 20 percent. So, it's natural that the decision to buy a car is now more conservative,” he added.

Despite the pressure, he believes that used car sales still have great potential in the medium term. Especially if the prices of new vehicles continue to rise.

“Used cars remain a rational solution for people who need a vehicle at a more affordable price,” he emphasized.

Electrified Cars Begin to Attract Interest

Photo : OLX Autos

He revealed that although MPVs and SUVs dominate, electric and hybrid cars are starting to enter the market. However, it cannot be denied that the number is relatively small.

“In the used car market, hybrid penetration increased from 0.9 percent to 1.8 percent, while EVs rose from 0.6 percent to 1.1 percent. This increase is dominated by urban areas such as Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya,” said Agung.

Toyota and Honda are still mentioned as the brands with the most used car sales on OLX. They are followed by Suzuki and Daihatsu.