ELECTRIC vehicle acceptance is now being reflected by an increase in used EVs for sale and more importantly, a greater interest shown by private and dealer buyers that is strengthening prices.

The latest Manheim EV auction showed that while the used EV market has challenges, there are signs of green shoots and reason for optimism. 

The company’s fourth EV auction held in November featured late-model corporate, government and lease vehicles with models sold included Kia EV6 and EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and MG4.

The auction achieved a 79 per cent clearance rate of vehicles sold either under the gavel or after the auction via referral. 

Manheim said that not only did a majority of offered EVs find buyers, but the selling prices also exceeded Manheim’s valuation by an average of 8.5 per cent. 

In addition, more than half of those EVs sold in this auction exceeded the reserve price set by the vendor and, in one case, by 26 per cent.

Manheim said that the auction drew hundreds of bids and, in a welcome development, a majority of buyers were franchise dealers, with the remainder being sold to savvy private buyers. 

It said that this suggested that retailers were increasingly comfortable stocking quality late-model used electric cars.

Manheim Australia corporate affairs manager Mike Costello said: “We know an increasing number of EVs are going to be coming through our auction lanes over the coming years.”

 “Our vendor customers including governments, corporate fleets, leasing firms, finance companies and manufacturers need a robust second hand EV marketplace for them, and that’s what Manheim is developing via our national auction network.

“The results from this latest EV auction show some positive signs for the market in terms of selling prices, clearance rates and the presence of both dealer and public buyers for the vehicles. We will build on this momentum into 2026 and beyond.”

Manheim is also selling an increasing number of EVs in its regular weekly auctions. 

Mr Costello said that the volume of EVs offered and sold at Manheim public auctions in 2025 were more than three times that in 2024 levels. The EVs are also selling for a greater percentage of seller reserve and at an average price above their valuation.

Mike Costello

“This growth in sold and offered volume is only increasing too, with September and October 2025 the two biggest months of EV auction sales on record, and November set to follow suit,” he said.

“Pure electric vehicles account for 2 to 3 per cent of recent public automotive auction sales and up to 18 per cent of near-new and low-mileage ex-company vehicles sold exclusively to franchise dealers on behalf of car manufacturers are now an EV.” 

Manheim Australia is working on plans for its auction, testing and transport marketplace in 2026 to ensure it keeps pace with growing EV supply sourced from cross-industry vendors.

One common piece of post-auction feedback was the confidence buyers gained from being provided with a battery state-of-health certificate.

Manheim Australia partners with European battery health testing leader Aviloo to offer transferrable reports on auctioned EVs. 

While Manheim Australia has just started its Aviloo health testing model, its parent company in the US, Manheim by Cox Automotive, has conducted VIN-specific health tests on almost 80,000 used EVs across North America, demonstrating the company’s global leadership. 

Manheim is part of Cox Automotive Australia, itself part of the world’s biggest vehicle services company Cox Automotive. 

In Australia, it boasts a large regional and metro footprint and values and sells car and industrial assets on behalf of lenders, leasing businesses, governments, corporate fleets, dealerships, automotive OEMs, insurers, rental companies and more.