Average Purchase Price Drops in March but Recovers in April - Hybrid Demand Grows Domestically and Abroad / Used Car Market Report (May 2026)

Fabrica Communications, Inc., which operates the used car appraisal site 'Kurumaerabi.com Kaitori,' has released a report analyzing April's market trends and forecasting future trends based on data from the past two to five years. The average purchase price fell to the 990,000 yen range in March but recovered in April, with a further rise expected between August and September. Due to the weak yen and rising fuel costs caused by the Middle East situation, demand for hybrid vehicles is expanding both domestically and internationally, leading to expectations for high appraisal values. While the impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade has been limited due to the securing of alternative routes, there is a risk of a price drop in the event of a rapid appreciation of the yen. In recent years, the weak yen has fueled competition between domestic used car dealers and overseas buyers, which is one of the factors pushing up average purchase prices. Fuel-efficient models such as the Toyota Prius, Aqua, and Honda Vezel are expected to fetch high prices regardless of their age or mileage.