According to the results of 2022, the Lviv region took the fifth place in terms of the number of used cars purchased on the domestic market, and the first among imports of used cars from abroad. Experts of the Institute of Car Market Research studied in detail what happened in the region during 2022, how car prices changed, compiled a rating of the most popular models in Lviv Oblast and talked to the local auto business.
Sales dynamics in the Lviv region
In total, 110.8 thousand passenger cars with mileage were purchased in Lviv region during 2022, which was 9.9% () of all used cars purchased last year
At the same time, 53% of all cars were imported used cars from abroad (58.8 thousand), the remaining 47% were domestic resales. It was possible to achieve such indicators thanks to the so-called "zero" customs clearance: for example, in May and June, the share of "freshly driven" cars in sales was 77.9% and 73.4%, respectively. After the return of customs payments, this indicator decreased sharply and as of January 2023 is 25.5%, which is the lowest in the last 12 months.
Quantitatively, the number of sales transactions during the year also changed. Before the start of the full-scale invasion, an average of 6.5-7.5 thousand used cars were bought every month in the Lviv region. The maximum sales were recorded in May and June: 18.8 and 18.7 thousand, respectively, thanks to the same "zero" customs clearance. Immediately after the repeal of this law, sales volumes began to decrease, and in January 2023 they reached a minimum: 6,000 transactions. It was less only in the alarming March, when the Service Centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were temporarily closed.
The largest number of registration operations for the first registration of "freshly driven" passenger cars and domestic resales in the Lviv region were carried out in territorial service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 4641 in Lviv (32.9 thousand), No. 4649 in the village of Winter water of the Pustomytiv district (16.3 thousand) and No. 4645 in the city of Stryi (11.3 thousand).
What type of fuel is chosen in the Lviv region
In the domestic market, according to the results of 2022 , 45.5% of purchased used cars were with a diesel engine. Another 39.8% were gasoline (20.7 thousand), 12.1% — equipped with HBO, 1.1% — hybrid. In total, they accounted for 51% of the total number of transactions. As for other types of fuel, electric cars accounted for 1.4% of the total, and cars with engines running exclusively on gas — 0.2%.
Diesel cars were most often brought from abroad : in 59.9% of cases. In 2022, 32.7% of the total number of used gasoline cars were imported, 3.6% were cars with HBO , 1.3% were hybrids, and 0.1% were gas cars. There were 2.5% of electric cars from abroad.
Top 15 used cars on the domestic market in the Lviv region
The first place in the Lviv region, as well as in the all-Ukrainian rating, is occupied by the Volkswagen Passat (2.5 thousand units). However, further interesting trends are visible. So, the Lanos and Sens models are not as popular in Lviv region as in some other regions, and occupy the eighth place in the rating. Instead, the second place was taken by the Volkswagen Golf (2.1 thousand). Also missing from the list are VAZ 2109/99, which ranks seventh in the national ranking, and Chevrolet Aveo (12th place in Ukraine). That is, in the Lviv region they give preference to used cars of European car manufacturers.
The average age of cars on the domestic market of Lviv Oblast is 14.1 years. At the same time, the "youngest" model among the 15 most popular was Ford Focus with an average age of 11.6 years, the oldest — Mercedes-Benz E-Class ( 18.1 years on average).
- Volkswagen Passat — average age of 15.3 years, 2,550 units.
- Volkswagen Golf — 17.6 years, 2,056 units.
- Skoda Octavia — 13.4 years, 1,893 units.
- Ford Focus — 11.6 years, 1,104 units.
- Renault Megane — 12.4 years, 992 units.
- Opel Astra — 14.7 years, 964 pcs.
- Skoda Fabia — 14 years, 895 units.
- Lanos & Sens — 15.6 years, 863 units.
- Audi A4 — 15 years, 860 units.
- Audi A6 — 15.7 years, 853 units.
- BMW 5 Series — 15.8 years, 778 units.
- BMW 3 Series — 15.3 years, 712 units.
- Mercedes-Benz E-Classe — 18.1 years, 687 units.
- Renault Scenic — 14.2 years, 644 units.
- Opel Zafira — 15.1 years, 640 units.
Top 15 used cars from abroad in the Lviv region
The Volkswagen Passat (3.4 thousand) became the leader of preferences in Lviv Oblast among "freshly driven" used cars in 2022, as well as in Ukraine in general. In general, the entire rating of the Lviv region differs little from the national trends. The majority are passenger cars from the countries of the European Union, and their average age is recorded at 12.1 years.
The "youngest" was the Nissan Qashqai ( 11.3 years on average), and the "oldest" was the Volkswagen Golf ( 16.1 years on average).
- Volkswagen Passat — average age 14 years, 3,426 units.
- Volkswagen Golf — 16.1 years, 3,232 units.
- Skoda Octavia — 13.5 years, 2,230 units.
- Audi A4 — 15.3 years, 1,586 units.
- Ford Focus — 12.4 years, 1,467 units.
- Volkswagen Touran — 15.1 years, 1,355 units.
- Opel Zafira — 14.9 years, 1,320 units.
- Renault Megane — 12.5 years, 1,284 units.
- Renault Scenic — 14.2 years, 1,235 units.
- Audi A6 — 14.5 years, 1,202 units.
- Opel Astra — 14.1 years, 1,141 units.
- BMW 3 Series — 15 years, 1,003 units.
- Skoda Fabia — 15 years, 863 units.
- Nissan Qashqai — 11.3 years, 856 units.
- Toyota Avensis — 15.5 years, 742 units.
How car prices have changed in the Lviv region
According to research based on Automoto.ua data, in 2022 the average price of used cars sold on the Internet in the Lviv region amounted to $6,350.
In general, car prices, even taking into account all the difficult challenges of wartime, were quite stable. The lowest average cost of cars was in April 2022 ( $6 thousand ), and the highest was in March ($6,700 ). The latter was due to the fact that the cheapest sales offers disappeared from the sale, so against this background the average price increased.
As of January 2023, the average price of cars on the Internet actually returned to the indicators of the beginning of 2022: $6,470. However, since the exchange rate has changed significantly, and most Ukrainians receive income in hryvnias, purchasing power has decreased: now, in hryvnia equivalent, more money is needed to buy the same car.
Compared to the beginning of last year 2022, the average price decreased in all 5 of the most popular cars in the Lviv region. It was the lowest during the so-called "zero" customs clearance during May-June. At the same time, the average age of these models has not changed significantly, that is, there is no question of their becoming cheaper due to aging.
- Volkswagen Passat (from $7,999 to $7,200)
- Volkswagen Golf (from $5,028 to $4,750)
- Skoda Octavia ($7,375 to $7,200)
- Ford Focus ($6,599 to $6,350)
- Opel Astra ($5,999 to $5,500)
What does the auto business of Lviv Oblast think?
According to the director of the largest car market in Lviv region , CARBAZAR, Oleksiy Lenyo, sales fell by approximately 20% in January. Sellers on the market offer many "freshly driven" used cars from abroad, so the volume of trade directly depends on the import conditions. The best indicators were during the so-called "zero" customs clearance, after the return of taxes, market activity fell.
In addition, the situation in EU countries also has a negative impact: the prices of used cars there continue to rise, very often importing a car from abroad turns out to be more expensive than buying the same model on the domestic market. However, if the car is in good technical condition, with confirmed mileage and good equipment, it is bought quickly enough, say representatives of CARBAZAR.
According to the companyʼs observations, today visitors to the Lviv car market are most interested in crossovers with an automatic gearbox, worth $10-15 thousand. At the same time, they buy both gasoline and diesel models, but mainly from European countries. Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5, KIA Sportage, Peugeot 3008 are in demand.
Among the segment of passenger cars, the greatest activity is in the price range of $7-8 thousand, such as Renault Laguna, Ford Focus, Volvo V50, Skoda Octavia and Renault Megane. From minivans, Lviv residents are interested in Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic, Volkswagen Touran and Peugeot 5008, all of which cost up to $8.5 thousand.
According to the CEO of the West Auto Hub company, Yulia Rykovska, significant changes in the structure of imports are now really noticeable, if compared with the period of "zero" customs clearance. Today, the majority are no longer ordinary passenger cars of an affordable price category. In the customs control zone located on the territory of the complex in the Lviv region in the village of Zimna Voda, customs clearance for cars from Europe and other countries. Due to the temporary shutdown of Ukrainian ports, cars from America arrive in transit through Lithuania and Poland. The absence of taxes contributes to the active import of electric cars — both from Europe and the USA and China. Tractor units with mileage and semi-trailers for them are also brought from abroad.
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