Editorial review: 21 September 2026. DAT Report 2026 covers the German market and surveys from 2025. These historical figures are retained; they are neither current offers nor a ranking of ownership costs.
Uncertainty about BEV resale value was reported by 72% of the group defined in chart E3: owners not planning to switch to an EV within the next two years. The earlier claim covering all German drivers was too broad. These are survey findings for 2025.
Concerns are not failure statistics
In the same group, 70% feared expensive repairs, 67% being stranded and 65% battery fires. These are beliefs, not event frequencies or forecasts of a car’s residual value. DAT does not provide a resale curve by model and age in this short report.
Interest in used BEVs
13% of used-car buyers could consider a used BEV; among those with BEV driving experience, 37% could (E14). This is not the BEV sales share. The association between experience and interest also does not prove that a test drive causes the difference.
How to assess depreciation
Use the difference between the purchase price and resale proceeds at the end of the selected period. Compare explicit alternative assumptions and check whether they change the result. The survey does not establish that premium BEVs always retain value better or that used EVs stop depreciating.
Buying and leasing
Leasing accounted for 45% of new BEVs acquired privately in 2025 (P38). That figure does not explain each buyer’s motivation. Allocation of resale risk depends on the agreement: check residual-value settlement, buyout terms, mileage and return condition. The word leasing does not guarantee transfer of every risk.
Calculate your own scenario
Select the appropriate country, ownership period and mileage. Enter the terms of the actual vehicle and offer in the TCO calculator.
Source: DAT Report 2026, Kurzbericht, E3, E14, P38; Autojahr 2025, DAT / NIQ GfK.