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Can EVs help solve the affordability crisis? Dave Thomas from CDK talks it out

As the average transaction price of a new car creeps towards $55,000, a coming wave of low mile, off-lease EVs with massive depreciation could help car dealers solve the affordability crisis, combat sticker shock, and move more units. CDK’s David Thomas talks us through it on today’s surprisingly affordable episode of Quick Charge.

A tidal wave of EVs leased in the early-2020s is about to come back to dealers, with over 300,000 electric lease returns expected in 2026 alone, and many hundreds of thousands more every year thereafter just as used values fall and fuel prices climb. For dealers and buyers alike, that volatility could turn what looks like a resale disaster on paper into one of the biggest affordability opportunities the car market has seen in years.


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Author

Avatar for Jo Borrás Jo Borrás

I’ve been involved in the electric vehicle transition in one way or another since 1997, and have covered the industry as a journalist since 2008. You can catch more of my work on Quick Charge and The Heavy Equipment Podcast with Mike Switzer.

NOTE: any opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Federal government, the State of Illinois, Electrek, or anyone else. Nothing here should be interpreted as a statement of official policy, legal guidance, or an endorsement unless expressly labeled as such.