India’s Used Car Market Shifts Toward Profitability
India’s used car market has entered a high-growth phase, reflecting a clear structural shift in consumer demand. After years of sluggish expansion, the segment grew 8% in FY25, with FY26 growth expected to touch 10%.
Sales volumes are set to cross the 6-million-unit mark this fiscal. The used-to-new car sales ratio has reached 1.4x, a significant increase from less than 1.0 five years ago. This growth is being driven by a rising preference for value-for-money mobility solutions, especially in a post-pandemic landscape where cost sensitivity remains high.
The used car segment is also increasingly seen as a reliable, first-choice option for new-age consumers, thanks to greater digital access and easier financing. These dynamics indicate that used vehicles are no longer a fallback option, but a mainstream choice for a broad swath of buyers.
