Carrot Used Cars releases January transaction data, showing a 23% year-over-year increase.

Carrot's used car service 'Carrot Used Car' analyzed transaction data for January and announced that the average transaction price of a compact car was approximately 4.76 million won.

This represents a roughly 23% increase compared to the average transaction price of 3.87 million won in the same period last year. Amidst persistent high prices and an economic downturn, the economic value of compact cars, with their low maintenance costs and various tax benefits, appears to have been a key factor in their selection.

Despite the price increase, transaction speeds actually accelerated. The average transaction time for light vehicles was seven days, 5.4 days shorter than the average for all vehicle types (12.4 days). This is attributed to increased demand for used light vehicles available for immediate purchase, driven by delays in the delivery of some new light vehicles since the second half of last year.

Looking at transaction volume by vehicle type, the Kia Morning ranked first among all vehicle types excluding trucks, followed by the Chevrolet Spark in second and the Hyundai Grandeur in third. Combined transactions for compact cars, including the Kia Ray (ranked seventh), accounted for approximately 20% of total transactions.

The Hyundai Sonata, a mid-size sedan, ranked 5th, and the Hyundai Avante, which is popular as a first car for young adults, ranked 6th, showing that the consumption trend of prioritizing practicality continues.

Demand for family cars also remains steady. The Kia Carnival, a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), ranked fourth, and the Hyundai Santa Fe ranked tenth. These models are considered suitable not only for family transportation but also for leisure activities like camping and car camping, as well as for business purposes, contributing to their stable sales flow regardless of economic fluctuations.

Carrot Used Car explained that its structure, which allows users to directly check the condition of vehicles and make transactions without the middleman distribution margin through a local direct transaction method, is influencing users' choices.