As both supply and demand increase, the Tesla Model 3 has overtaken the long-reigning BMW i3 as the most searched-for EV on the Hungarian used car market.

In the first quarter of 2024, the average price of used EVs listed on Használtautó.hu was HUF 11.7 million. A year later, the average fell to HUF 10.8 mln. Despite a slight increase in the average age of listed vehicles—from 3.2 to 3.6 years—and a 27% rise in average mileage (now 64,710 km), both supply and buyer interest are on the rise. Inquiries via phone and online platforms increased by 45%, while the number of listings grew by 29%.

The Tesla Model 3 now tops the popularity chart, displacing the BMW i3, which held the lead for several years. The Model 3 currently sells for an average of HUF 9.73 mln, with an average mileage of 113,700 km—down from HUF 12.3 million and 75,900 km one year earlier. Tesla’s Model Y also made the top five, while the Model S, which ranked seventh last year, dropped out of the top 10.

Other consistently popular models, such as the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona, Renault Zoe, Hyundai Ioniq, and Dacia Spring, remain near the top. Volkswagen is now represented by the ID.3 instead of the Golf, and the Kia Niro appears for the first time on the list.

User interest has grown across nearly all models, but the Model 3 stands out, having received three times more inquiries compared to the same period last year.

“The Tesla Model 3 is climbing higher in our rankings year after year, and this year it has managed to surpass Hungary’s previously most popular electric car, the BMW i3. This is partly due to the fact that the average price of electric cars continues to fall, making EVs increasingly accessible to a wider audience,” said Dániel Lőcsei, brand manager of Használtautó.hu.

“In Tesla’s case, this trend is particularly striking: not only have new car prices dropped, but rising demand has led many dealers to import Model 3s from abroad, so several listings now fall under the HUF 10 million price range,” he added.

“The popularity of the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe remains strong, while the Volkswagen ID.3 has entered the list of most searched-for electric vehicles—thanks to depreciation, which has made it far more affordable compared to last year,” Lőcsei noted.