NEWS

Welcome to the June edition of our newsletter.

This month, I am proud to share that Autorola has once again been recognised by Deloitte as one of Denmark's Best Managed Companies. Receiving this recognition for the third consecutive year reflects the strength of our people, our strategy, and our continued commitment to creating value for customers.

As the automotive market continues to evolve, understanding change and responding to it quickly has never been more important. In this edition, we share the latest Market Watch, which explores how shifting supply and pricing dynamics are creating new challenges and opportunities across Europe's used-car market.

We also introduce RV Tracker, a new solution designed to help organisations better understand residual value performance and make more informed decisions. Alongside this, we take a closer look at how rising fuel prices are reshaping EV demand across Europe, with more electric vehicles remaining in their domestic markets as local demand strengthens.

Beyond data and technology, we continue to invest in bringing the industry together. Our Executive Breakfast series is creating valuable opportunities for automotive leaders across markets to exchange perspectives, discuss common challenges, and turn market intelligence into action.

Finally, we highlight the opening of our new inspection centre on Funen, strengthening our nationwide presence in Denmark and expanding our capacity to support customers with efficient fleet and remarketing services.

I hope you find the insights valuable.

Best regards,
Peter Grøftehauge

Autorola has once again been recognised by Deloitte as one of Denmark's Best Managed Companies, marking the third consecutive year that we have received this prestigious recognition.

The Best Managed Companies programme recognises organisations that demonstrate excellence in strategy, innovation, organisational capabilities, governance, and financial performance.

In its assessment, the independent jury highlighted Autorola's proactive and strategic leadership and unique data position as a significant competitive advantage and differentiator that ensures continued relevance in an increasingly digital market. The jury particularly emphasised the company's ability to combine strategic vision with data-driven insights.

Receiving this recognition for a third consecutive year reflects our continued commitment to delivering innovative solutions, trusted market intelligence, and data-driven insights that help customers navigate change and make informed business decisions.

"This recognition confirms the strength of our strategy, our people, and our commitment to innovation," said Peter Grøftehauge, Founder and CEO of Autorola. "Most importantly, it reflects our ability to create lasting value for our customers by combining deep industry expertise with data, technology, and insights that help them succeed in a dynamic market."

We extend our sincere thanks to our employees, customers, and partners for their continued trust, collaboration, and support.

Europe's used-car market may appear more stable on the surface, but the latest Market Watch reveals a clear shift in where pressure is building. The focus is no longer on a broad market correction — it is now concentrated in nearly-new vehicles, where rising stock meets narrowing price gaps to discounted new cars.

At the same time, electrified vehicles are evolving in different ways. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are selling faster, with Market Days Supply dropping to 50 days, but this improved liquidity is largely driven by significant prior price corrections, not by a recovery in values.

Meanwhile, hybrids are emerging as the most balanced option, combining lower running costs with ease of use, and gradually gaining share as petrol declines — falling from over 43% to below 38% of the market in two years.

Despite these shifts, ICE vehicles still form the backbone of the market. However, higher fuel costs are making them more challenging to defend from a pricing and value perspective, signalling a more demanding environment for residual values.

The rapid growth of nearly-new stock further adds to this complexity. Vehicles under two years old now represent the largest share of used-car inventory, increasing exposure to new-car incentives and pricing competition — and putting additional pressure on residual values.

The key takeaway: the market is not stabilising — it is becoming more selective. Residual value performance is increasingly shaped by price positioning, new-car competition and local market dynamics, rather than powertrain alone.

Read the full June Market Watch to gain deeper insights into pricing trends, stock dynamics and the forces shaping Europe's used-car market in the months ahead.

Read the full Indicata Market Watch →

Residual values are becoming increasingly complex to navigate. Market dynamics are shifting faster than ever, making decisions around pricing, risk and competitiveness more challenging across the industry. While access to data is no longer the issue, understanding what that data truly means has become a critical differentiator.

To address this, we are introducing RV Tracker, a new solution designed to bring clarity to residual value performance across markets. RV Tracker provides a structured view of how residual values are evolving, enabling a clearer understanding of competitive positioning and the key factors shaping market behaviour.

Unlike static reports or one-off market analyses, RV Tracker provides an ongoing and structured view of residual value performance, helping organisations understand not only what is changing, but why it is changing and what it means for their business.

Rather than simply providing data, RV Tracker helps translate market dynamics into meaningful insight that can support better decision-making. By combining harmonised market intelligence with expert interpretation, it enables a more confident approach to pricing, risk management and long-term planning.

This helps organisations identify emerging risks earlier, benchmark performance against competitors and make more informed pricing and remarketing decisions.

To experience this in practice, we are also introducing the RV Intelligence Check — a focused session designed to give you a clear, market-based view of residual value dynamics and what they mean for your decisions.

In a market where residual values are no longer as predictable as they once were, the ability to interpret trends and act on them is becoming a true competitive advantage. RV Tracker is built to support that shift — moving from data to understanding, and from understanding to action.

Request your RV Intelligence Check →

More EVs are staying in their home markets

A notable shift has emerged in Europe's cross-border used vehicle market during the second quarter of 2026. Based on Autorola Marketplace auction data, rising fuel prices are driving stronger domestic demand for electric vehicles, resulting in fewer EVs being exported and more being retained within their country of origin.

Comparing auction activity before and after April 1st, 2026, the trend is evident across several European markets. The disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted how quickly external market forces can reshape vehicle demand, with rising fuel prices driving stronger domestic EV demand and reducing export volumes across Europe.

Export volumes decline as local markets absorb supply

Historically, many European markets relied heavily on exports to balance EV supply and demand. However, growing consumer interest in electric mobility is changing this dynamic.

Higher fuel costs have improved the economic case for EV ownership, increasing buyer demand and supporting stronger local pricing. As a result, more vehicles can now be sold domestically, reducing the need for export channels.

This does not mean cross-border trade is slowing overall. Rather, it reflects a changing market balance where local demand is becoming strong enough to compete more directly with international buyers for available EV stock.

The Netherlands leads a broader European trend

The impact of this shift is particularly visible in several key European markets.

The most significant development can be seen in the Netherlands, where the share of EVs remaining in the domestic market has nearly doubled compared to the period before April.

Germany has also experienced a substantial increase, with the share of EVs sold domestically rising by 34.5%. Belgium follows a similar pattern, recording a 22% increase.

While the trend is most visible in these markets, similar developments can be observed across much of Europe. In general, stronger local demand is absorbing a larger share of available EV stock before vehicles reach international buyers.

Denmark remains an outlier

One market continues to stand apart from the broader European trend: Denmark.

Demand for electric vehicles remains among the strongest in Europe, which is reflected in Autorola Marketplace auction data. The export share of EVs from Denmark remains close to zero, as domestic demand is sufficient to absorb nearly all available supply.

In contrast, approximately half of Danish petrol and diesel vehicles continue to be sold to export markets, highlighting the unique position EVs have achieved within the country's used car market.

What does this mean for the market?

The latest auction data suggests that rising fuel prices are accelerating the maturation of Europe's EV market.

As domestic demand strengthens, fewer electric vehicles are entering cross-border channels, particularly in markets that have historically exported large volumes of EVs. However, today's market conditions do not guarantee tomorrow's. Changes in fuel prices, consumer preferences, government incentives, or vehicle supply can quickly alter demand patterns across Europe.

For remarketing professionals, this highlights the importance of having access to a dynamic marketplace capable of adapting to changing supply and demand conditions in real time. The ability to respond quickly to market shifts will be increasingly important as cross-border flows continue to evolve.

Key takeaway

Rising fuel prices have strengthened domestic demand for EVs across much of Europe, leading to fewer vehicles being exported and more being retained in their home markets, particularly in markets such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

At the same time, the speed of this development underlines how quickly market conditions can change. Success in vehicle remarketing increasingly depends on understanding where demand is strongest, identifying shifts before they become visible in broader market statistics, and having the flexibility to adapt sourcing and sales strategies accordingly.

In a fast-moving industry where change is constant and often unpredictable, one factor continues to prove invaluable: the opportunity to come together, exchange perspectives and learn from one another.

This belief lies at the heart of Indicata's Executive Breakfast series.

What began as a simple ambition — to create a space for meaningful, insight-driven conversations — has quickly evolved into a truly impactful initiative. Across France, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands and Germany, the series has brought together automotive leaders to engage in open dialogue, challenge assumptions and build on each other's thinking.

While topics varied by market, one common theme emerged: decision-makers increasingly rely on real-time market intelligence to navigate pricing volatility, electrification challenges and evolving market demand. In an environment defined by rapid change, a proactive strategy has become essential, enabling organisations to make timely decisions, respond faster to market shifts and drive stronger performance and profitability.

Beyond the topics themselves, a clear pattern has emerged across all sessions: a strong willingness to share, a genuine curiosity to learn, and a shared understanding that in a market evolving at this pace, no single organisation holds all the answers.

The response from participants has been consistent across markets — highlighting the importance of trusted forums where decision-makers can step back from day-to-day pressures, exchange insights with peers and gain clarity in an increasingly complex environment.

At Autorola Group, we believe that creating value goes beyond technology and services. It is also about connecting people, ideas and perspectives — and helping transform those insights into better, more confident decisions.

Looking ahead, the journey continues. With upcoming Executive Breakfast events planned in Austria, Italy and additional markets, the series will keep expanding — bringing new voices, fresh perspectives and deeper conversations to the forefront, and continuing to strengthen a more informed and connected automotive community.

Autorola Denmark has strengthened its nationwide presence with the opening of its fourth inspection centre, located in Langeskov near Odense. The new facility also marks a return to our roots, as it is located on Industrivej 4, where our founder and CEO, Peter Grøftehauge, spent much of his childhood.

Global presence, local roots

"It's nostalgic to return to where it all started for me. I used to play here as a child, and when the opportunity to buy the site arose, we seized it. The location offers excellent accessibility and the facilities we need. We've been looking for the right location for some time, and it's great to finally open our doors in a place that meets all our requirements. With our own compound, we can now serve customers on Funen directly under the Autorola banner and provide an even more efficient and consistent customer experience," says Peter.

With the addition of the Funen facility, Autorola Denmark now operates four facilities where leased vehicles can be inspected and stored. The other three facilities are located in Ballerup, Køge and Fredericia.

Autorola handles more than 38,000 vehicles annually in Denmark, making a strong nationwide network of inspection centres essential. In other parts of the country, inspections continue to be carried out in close collaboration with our business partners FDM and Applus+, and for the time being we have no plans to change this.

"We always focus on delivering the best possible service to our customers, and on Funen there was a clear need for more space. With the new facility in Langeskov, we are significantly expanding our capacity, and this supports our ambition to deliver scalable, data-driven and efficient remarketing and fleet services to leasing and fleet customers across Denmark," says Peter Noer Kyndal, Nordic Director of Fleet Service.

The expansion is part of Autorola's growth plan

The expansion is a natural step in Autorola's growth plan and meets rising demand for professional and efficient fleet services. To support this growth, Autorola continues to invest in both operational capacity and customer service. The new facility in Langeskov is another important step towards meeting future demand and ensuring that Autorola continues to deliver efficient, high-quality fleet services to customers across Denmark as the market continues to grow.