Driving the Volatility: The Boom, the Bust, and the Economic Forces Reshaping the Used Car Business
The used car market is the largest, most active segment of the global auto industry, yet for decades it remained predictable, defined by consistent depreciation. That changed dramatically over the last few years. At one point, used car values were appreciating faster than many assets, leaving both dealers and consumers reeling. This period of unprecedented volatility was the result of a perfect storm of supply shortages and unusual consumer demand, and its ripple effects are still profoundly reshaping how the car business operates for dealers, lenders, and everyday drivers.
The Anatomy of the Boom (2020–2022)
The seismic shift in the used car market began with a cascade of failures in the new car supply chain. The primary catalyst was the semiconductor shortage. Modern vehicles require dozens of advanced computer chips, and when global chip production slowed or halted during the pandemic, major manufacturers were forced to drastically cut production. … READ MORE >>>






