Tesla owners ditch Elon Musk’s brand as sales of used electric cars double in a year
British Tesla owners appear to be losing their affection for the brand, as second-hand sales of the electric vehicles have doubled over the past year.
Data from Gumtree reveals a staggering 128% increase in Tesla listings in the last year, with some industry insiders speculating that Elon Musk’s new role in the White House could be driving this trend.
However, Tesla isn’t the only brand experiencing a surge in used car sales – listings for Chinese-owned MG vehicles have shot up by an astonishing 503% compared to last January.
Despite this, Ford remains the most listed vehicle on the platform with nearly 27,000 posts, although this represents an 8% drop in the first month of 2024.
Luxury brands like Aston Martins, Bentleys and Porsches saw the sharpest decline in listings. On the other hand, Sym scooters claimed the title for the largest percentage increase in sales, with a rise of 1,039% between January 2024 and 2025.
Research has discovered that a massive 48% of adults believe they’re trading more second-hand items than ever before. And according to data from OnePoll.com, the average Brit sells and buys two items online every month.
The research shows the number of free items listed on the site dropped by 34% suggesting users are more inclined to sell for profit rather than simply discard unwanted items – despite this, there were still 13,000 free listings live.
A spokesperson from Gumtree disclosed that vehicles, electronics and clothing are consistently popular categories, with these items frequently changing hands on the platform.
Additionally, the survey found that books and shoes are among the most popular second-hand purchases, while art pieces, luxury watches, and designer furniture are among the more unusual items people consider buying.
A spokesperson for Gumtree commented: “We always find it interesting to see what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to our listings.
“People clearly get a real kick out of second-hand shopping, not only to get something shifted, but also to pick up something for a bargain price.”
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