Devaluation of electric cars reaches record level in Brazil and impacts used car market

The Brazilian automotive market is going through a moment of significant adjustment in the electrified vehicle segment, as shown by a detailed survey carried out by sector specialists. The analysis, which covers the period between June 2024 and May 2025, reveals that the depreciation of battery-powered models greatly exceeded the national average depreciation. Enquanto the general used car market recorded an average price drop of close to 15%, owners of certain electric models faced losses reaching more than double that percentage in just twelve months of use.

Impact on prices and analysis methodology

The study used official data from Tabela Fipe as a basis, monitoring the fluctuation in values ​​of 180 different models divided into 20 automotive categories. The research identified that the commercial aggressiveness of automakers in launching new products, often at reduced prices, generated an immediate ripple effect on the resale value of used units. Esse phenomenon created a scenario where brand new vehicles compete unfairly with pre-owned vehicles from the same brand, putting downward pressure on prices.

Another determining factor highlighted by the survey is consumer distrust in relation to the charging infrastructure and after-sales support of brands that are still consolidating their presence in the country. Uncertainty about the ease of future resale and the maintenance of rapidly evolving battery technologies contribute to the used car market penalizing these models with steep discounts in the first year of circulation.

Models with the highest financial loss rate

Among the vehicles analyzed, the devaluation champion was the JAC E-JS4 electric SUV. The model, which was sold for approximately R$254,900, saw its market value plummet 37.5% over the course of a year. In monetary terms, this represents an equity loss of around R$95,588 for the owner, an amount that exceeds the value of many new popular cars.

The situation is not isolated to this specific model. The sedan from the same manufacturer, the JAC E-JS7, recorded a drop of 32.6% in the same period. With an initial price of R$259,990, the vehicle suffered a reduction of R$84,757 in its residual value. Esses numbers illustrate the difficulty that brands with less widespread dealership networks face in maintaining the residual value of their products in the face of a consumer who prioritizes the safety of traditional brands.

Compact and hybrid SUV performance

The entry-level tram segment also did not escape the trend of strong depreciation. The Renault Kwid E-Tech, positioned as one of the most accessible options for those wishing to enter electric mobility, showed a devaluation of 25.9%. The model lost around R$36,257 of its original value, which shows that even vehicles with urban proposals and lower operating costs suffer from the volatility of the segment.

In the utility niche, the Ford Maverick Hybrid appeared as the only pickup truck to appear on the list of biggest devaluations. The model recorded a drop of 22.2%, which is equivalent to a loss of R$59,350. Esse data suggests that hybrid technology, although seen as a safer transition by consumers, is also subject to severe market corrections when applied to niche segments or imported models with more expensive replacement parts.

Infrastructure as a trade barrier

The Associação Brasileira of the Veículo Elétrico (ABVE) provides data that helps explain the reticence of the used market. Until mid-2024, Brasil had just over 4,200 public charging points. Essa quantity is considered insufficient to meet the growing fleet, generating so-called “range anxiety” among drivers.

For anyone buying a used car, battery warranty and ease of recharging are central concerns. The perception that infrastructure has not kept up with the pace of new vehicle sales makes pre-owned electric vehicles less attractive, forcing sellers to lower prices in order to close a deal. The geographical limitation of charging points restricts the use of these vehicles to large urban centers, reducing the universe of potential buyers.

Comparison with traditional brands

The survey highlights an important contrast between new Asian manufacturers and traditional automakers established in Brasil for decades. Modelos of brands such as Toyota and Volkswagen tend to present less steep depreciation curves. The existence of a vast network of dealerships and the ease of finding spare parts provide an extra layer of security for buyers in the used market.

Vehicles like the hybrid Honda CR-V, for example, are able to sustain their prices more efficiently than direct competitors from newly arrived brands. Trust in the brand and history of durability remain valuable assets that protect the owner’s equity against sudden fluctuations caused by price wars or sudden technological changes.

The factor of technological updates

The speed of technological evolution in electric cars acts as a double-edged sword. If on the one hand it brings more efficient batteries and greater autonomy with each launch, on the other it makes previous models obsolete very quickly. An electric car that is only two years old may have charging technology or battery chemistry that is significantly inferior to that of a brand new model, which deters consumer interest in used vehicles.

Unlike combustion cars, where mechanical changes between one year and another tend to be subtle, in electric cars, software and hardware updates can transform the user experience. Isso causes the market to price the risk of obsolescence aggressively, resulting in the devaluation rates observed in the study.

Tax and market perspectives

The future scenario presents variables that could change this dynamic. The gradual return of the import tax for electric and hybrid cars tends to make new models more expensive, which, in theory, could increase the value of used ones that are already nationalized or imported at lower rates. However, the market is still digesting the large volume of inventory brought in by automakers before the tax changes.

Experts believe that the stabilization of used car prices will directly depend on the expansion of the charging network and the consolidation of after-sales operations by new manufacturers. Até Although the consumer feels the same security in purchasing a used electric car as they do when purchasing a combustion model, the tendency is for depreciation to continue to be more pronounced in this specific niche, requiring the buyer to carefully calculate the total cost of ownership in the long term.