---
title: "Used EV Sales Jump in January 2026 While New EV Demand Slips: Dealer Strategy Insights"
description: "New EV demand softened in January, but used EV sales jumped and supply tightened. Here’s the operator debate: capability or pricing discipline?"
image: https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/hubfs/Presentation%20-%20Profitable%20Pre-Owned%20Insights%20(10).png
---

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Inventory management

# The EV Story Dealers Are Getting Wrong: New EVs Sliding, Used EVs Gaining — But That’s Only Part of the Playbook

New EV demand softened in January, but used EV sales jumped and supply tightened. Here’s the operator debate: capability or pricing discipline?

By CRAIG A WHITE • February 20, 2026

![New EV demand softened in January, but used EV sales jumped](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/hubfs/Presentation%20-%20Profitable%20Pre-Owned%20Insights%20(10).png)

Market signalAcquisition impactGross & aging riskOperator action

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Profitable Pre-Owned | Market Signal + Operator Debate

# The EV Story Dealers Are Getting Wrong: New EVs Sliding, Used EVs Gaining — But That’s Only Part of the Playbook

January didn’t deliver an “EV winter.” It delivered an **EV reset** — and the split between new and used is the tell. New EV demand softened sharply while [**used EV sales strengthened**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/manheim-muvvi-q4-why-used-evs-will-dominate-the-wholesale-market-in-2026)and supply tightened. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)

**Operator takeaway:** This isn’t a pricing story first. It’s a **capability story** — how well your store removes EV risk before price.

## The January 2026 Snapshot (Cox Automotive)

Cox’s January 2026 EV Market Monitor reads like a split-screen: **new EVs** carrying inventory and softer demand while **used EVs** move with momentum. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)

- **New EV sales:** 66,276 units — down 29.9% YoY and 20.4% MoM. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)
- **Used EV sales:** 31,503 units — up 21.2% YoY and 20.8% MoM. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)
- **New EV days’ supply:** 168 days. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)
- **Used EV days’ supply:** 43 days — below ICE+ for the 10th straight month. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)
- **Used EV listing price:** $35,442 — down 5.1% YoY. [\[1\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref1)
  
  ![Executive infographicstyle data snapshot on a clean white background using the Profitable PreOwned palette dark navy and charcoal text orange accentsT](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Executive%20infographicstyle%20data%20snapshot%20on%20a%20clean%20white%20background%20using%20the%20Profitable%20PreOwned%20palette%20dark%20navy%20and%20charcoal%20text%20orange%20accentsT.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Executive%20infographicstyle%20data%20snapshot%20on%20a%20clean%20white%20background%20using%20the%20Profitable%20PreOwned%20palette%20dark%20navy%20and%20charcoal%20text%20orange%20accentsT.png)

---

## The EV Narrative Shift: It’s Not “EV Demand” — It’s Where Demand Is Landing

The headline is being interpreted incorrectly. People read “new EV softness” as “EV softness.”

But used EV momentum says something different: **affordability is replacing incentives.** The buyer pool is widening — and stores that reduce uncertainty are getting the turn.

Davide Giacobbe, Co-Founder of [Voltest](http://www.getvoltest.com/), explains that without reliable battery‑health data, buyers assume the worst and price in significant discounts to cover potential risk. Dealers overcome this hesitation by offering clear, trustworthy battery insights on pre‑owned EVs.

 [\[2\]](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-sales-jump-in-january-2026-while-new-ev-demand-slips-dealer-strategy-insights#ref2)

## The Real Operator Fork: Capability or Pricing?

Debate: If used EV supply is tightening while new EV demand softens… is the real shift in **dealer capability** or **pricing discipline**?

1. **Inventory:** Are you sourcing EVs with confidence in mind?
2. **Pricing:** Are you protecting turn velocity?
3. **Trust:** Are you removing customer hesitation before price?

![Executive decisiontree infographic white background PPO palette navycharcoal  orange accents Visual fork diagram labeled conceptually Capability vs Pr](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Executive%20decisiontree%20infographic%20white%20background%20PPO%20palette%20navycharcoal%20%20orange%20accents%20Visual%20fork%20diagram%20labeled%20conceptually%20Capability%20vs%20Pr.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Executive%20decisiontree%20infographic%20white%20background%20PPO%20palette%20navycharcoal%20%20orange%20accents%20Visual%20fork%20diagram%20labeled%20conceptually%20Capability%20vs%20Pr.png)

## Get the Weekly Operator Signals

The Profitable Pre-Owned Brief breaks down:

- Real market signals (not headlines)
- Buying strategy adjustments operators are making now
- Early demand shifts before they show in pricing

Join operators using market signals to drive buying decisions:

[Subscribe to The PPO Brief](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/subscribe-to-the-profitable-pre-owned-brief)

## What I’d Do in the Next 60 Days

- Treat EVs as a confidence project, not a pricing project.
- [Build intake standards around battery + readiness](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/hubfs/2026%20Used%20EV%20Recon%20Checklist.pdf.pdf).
- Track days’ supply weekly.

---

### References

1. Cox Automotive Inc. — EV Market Monitor – January 2026. [Link](https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights-hub/ev-market-monitor-january-2026/)
2. Davide Giacobbe — LinkedIn commentary on used EV price adjustments. [Link](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7430590183470964737/)

Keep the Framework Moving

## Turn the signal into a repeatable operating decision.

The Used-Car Inventory Operating System connects acquisition rules, recon accountability, pricing cadence, aging review, and exit decisions.

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CONTINUE READING

## More operator insight.

### [PPO INSIGHT Wholesale Used-Car Prices Fell 3.1%. Here's Why It Matters **Read the article →**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/wholesale-used-car-prices-fell-3.1.-heres-why-it-matters-ppo)

### [PPO INSIGHT How to Price Inventory Friction Into a Used-Car Appraisal **Read the article →**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/how-to-price-inventory-friction-used-car-appraisal)

### [PPO INSIGHT The Wholesale Market Is No Longer Rewarding “Close Enough” **Read the article →**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-car-auction-buyers-are-getting-more-selective-ppo)

### [PPO INSIGHT Used-EV Inventory Management: A Dealer Group Appraisal Consistency Guide **Read the article →**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/used-ev-inventory-management-a-dealer-group-appraisal-consistency-guide)

### [PPO INSIGHT Wholesale Prices Fell. Retail Prices Rose. That Spread Will Not Last Forever **Read the article →**](https://www.profitablepre-owned.com/blog/wholesale-used-car-prices-fell.-retail-prices-rose)

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