Second-hand car trading prices in November rose 31% compared to the same month when the new coronavirus was unaffected, the highest level in the last decade.
Due to the shortage of supply of parts such as semiconductors, the production of new cars was delayed, and the number of cars in the used car market is decreasing, resulting in a shortage of cars.
According to USS, the largest used car auction operator, the average winning price for used cars that the company mediated and closed in November was 938,000 yen per car.
It increased by 31% compared to November when it was not affected by the spread of the new coronavirus, the highest level in 10 years.
According to the people involved in the used car market, in addition to the shortage of semiconductors, the production of new cars was temporarily suspended due to the shortage of parts that became serious due to the spread of infection in Southeast Asia after this summer. The number of cars around the market has decreased, and the shortage of cars has pushed up the transaction price.
In addition, rising demand for Japanese used cars in Asia and Africa, as economic activity stagnated in the new Corona resumes, has also led to higher prices.
Expert "At least one year before prices settle down"
Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Research Center, who is familiar with the used car market, said, "Japanese used cars are evaluated as having high quality, and due to the fact that it is difficult to pull from overseas, exports are continuing to be strong. It is behind the soaring prices. "
On top of that, regarding the future outlook, "The shortage of parts supply is gradually improving and car production is recovering, but there is a possibility that the operation of the factory will become unstable again due to the new mutant virus" Omicron strain ". Yes, the demand to buy a car is building up every day, and I think it will take at least a year for the used car price to settle down. "