Which factors decide a model’s future residual value?

From vehicle design to external market conditions, discover how and why certain factors have critical effects on car residual values.

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How to forecast residual value

Discover the data you need to reliably forecast a car’s residual value.

How a vehicle’s features impact its residual value

Understand what effect aesthetics, functionality and total cost of ownership have on a car’s residual value.

Which market factors influence residual value

Learn how sales strategies and market changes can strengthen – or damage – residual values.


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How to forecast a vehicle’s future residual value

To reliably benchmark how a car will perform across markets and customer segments, it’s essential you know how to calculate future residual values.

A vehicle’s residual value can rise or fall can be influenced by a great number of factors. This includes influences like:

  • Aesthetics
  • Functionality
  • Total cost of ownership
  • Sales strategies and discounts
  • Electric vehicles

To accurately forecast – and reassess – how influencers like these will affect a vehicle’s value, automotive experts rely on statistical models and historical data.

 

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Why a vehicle’s aesthetics impact its residual value

A car’s appearance evokes powerful feelings and emotions which are crucial to purchasing decisions.

Positive responses create value and increase the desire for ownership. On the other hand, an unappealing car generates a perception of low enjoyment – and therefore low value.

It is important that a car continues to evoke a positive emotional response over time. Otherwise, you risk bringing a vehicle into your portfolio that feels outdated and undesirable almost immediately after launch.

So, it’s crucial you stock emotive and fresh cars – even in the used-car market.

How a car’s functionality influences its residual value

Another key aspect that provokes an emotive response in buyers is functionality. To maintain a high residual value, a vehicle must be comfortable and it must be easy for customers to understand key functions.

A salesperson can explain a car’s features in detail – aiding comprehension and boosting residual value. But some sales take place without a salesperson. So, a complex offering leads to consumer disappointment, damaging the model’s residual value as a consequence.

Car Residual Values

How a car’s total cost of ownership impacts residual values

Consumers on both the new and used-car markets make decisions based on efficiency, weighing up what they can expect in return for their investment. This often includes comparing equipment, features and running costs.

A low total cost of ownership improves a model’s perceived value, in turn boosting its residual value. So, a vehicle with superior cost performance strengthens the manufacturer and the model’s position on the new and used-car markets.

 

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How new-car sales strategies impact long-term residual values

For a brand or model to maintain stable residual values, its sales planning must successfully balance supply and demand in the used-car market.

Over-ambitious volume planning for a new model may rely on value-harming measures like cash discounts and self-registrations to achieve sales targets. This results in an over-supply of the model, weakening residual values.

A strong fleet presence can also lead to an imbalance between supply and demand. A vehicle might be in high demand from corporate buyers, but not from private buyers.

Short-term business (OEM/dealer registration and rental) can cause the most harm to residual values, as these registrations are aimed at generating volume artificially.

Our Car to Market team provides hands-on consulting to help optimise residual values up to four years before a model launch. Click below to learn more.

 

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Why new-car discounts harm long-term residual values

Aggressive cash discount campaigns damage residual values.

Firstly, allowing cash discounts on one model can harm other models’ residual values. When a more desirable vehicle is discounted and becomes cheaper than a less desirable vehicle, the less desirable vehicle’s value is pushed even lower.

Secondly, used-car buyers will expect those discounts to translate into cheaper prices on the used-car market, further harming residual values.

For an accurate view of current European market trends – including residual value comparisons across 42 brands – use Residual Value Intelligence. Click below to learn more.

 

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How electric vehicles are affecting residual values

The demand for fuel-efficient cars is increasing for both cost and environmental reasons. That means models with reduced C02 emissions and fuel costs, together with full hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles are becoming more desirable.

So, your future portfolio decisions should reflect these preferences – or else you’ll stock undesirable vehicles with weak residual value and high financial risk.

Our specialist electric vehicle volume and forecast data – EV Volumes – provides a complete understanding of EVs in all their powertrain variations. Click below to learn more.

 

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Våra lösningar

Residual Value Monitor

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