New deal, same old car prices
Used EVs are having a moment. Not the flashy, new-car, “look at my charging port” kind — the cheaper, secondhand kind that usually show up when buyers want to save money and skip depreciation drama.
According to Cox Automotive, demand for all-electric vehicles is running hot amid the Iran war and elevated U.S. gas prices. That combo is giving used EV values a lift instead of the usual post-sale haircut.
What’s moving the market?
The company says its Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index for EVs, which tracks wholesale auction prices, rose 12% last month compared with June 2025. In plain English: dealers are paying more for used EV inventory, and that can eventually ripple down to what shoppers see on the lot.
Why does that matter? Because used car prices are one of those sneaky little inflation gremlins. If gas stays expensive and drivers keep leaning toward electrics, the affordability story around EVs gets a little less cute.
Big picture
This isn’t just a car story — it’s a consumer behavior story with a geopolitical side quest. When oil-market chaos and high pump prices start reshaping what people want to drive, even the used-car aisle gets dragged into the drama.