What is the used car residual value outlook for 2026?
15 January 2026
What happened to residual values (RVs) last year? Will trends persist into 2026? How have value retention trends developed in Eastern Europe? A new outlook webinar will provide answers to these questions and more.
RVs followed a downward trend in recent years across many European used-car markets. This came after exceptional value inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic as markets began to normalise. However, this has not been the only factor affecting automotive residual values.
So, which macroeconomic forces have had the greatest impact, and which markets have been most affected? What will happen to RVs throughout this year and why? Is there a distinct difference between the results recorded in Eastern and Western Europe?
To get answers to all these important questions and more, make sure to sign up for next week’s webinar. This free online event will take place on 21 January 2026, at 9:30 BST / 10:30 CEST. Register now for the 2026 residual value outlook: Regional shifts and trends.
Residual value outlook
The upcoming webinar will feature experts from across Europe. Providing insights into used-car markets, value retention and differing regional trends, the event’s panel will include:
- Ana Azofra, regional head of valuations for Southwest Europe
- Robert Madas, regional head of valuations for Central and Eastern Europe
- Ulmis Horchidan, cluster head of valuations for Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary
- Tom Geggus, editor of Autovista24
The topics up for discussion will include an exploration of the trends which defined used-car market developments in 2025. With so many macroeconomic factors, isolating the most influential variables is incredibly valuable for businesses.
For example, notable fluctuations in stock days and prices have revealed buyer preferences in terms of segments and powertrains. Key performance indicators like these are essential when setting RV expectations for the years ahead. This is important for a wide range of automotive businesses, including carmakers, fleet operators, and remarketing managers.
European used-car markets can vary enormously due to different economic, geographic and political dynamics. For example, Eastern and Western Europe can see vastly different used-car market trends and value retention results. This can mean fresh RV opportunities and threats.
Outlook for many sectors
The insights delivered in the webinar will be valuable to a wide-ranging audience from across the automotive sector. This will include:
- Carmakers and suppliers
- Pricing and product managers
- Fleet, leasing, and RV managers
- Finance, insurance, and risk analysts
- Portfolio and remarketing managers – Industry executives and business analysts
The online event will end with a question-and-answer session. Attendees will be able to submit queries directly to the panellists. Any questions not answered during the webinar will be addressed afterwards via email.
Register now for: 2026 residual value outlook: Regional shifts and trends. The free online event will take place on 21 January 2026 at 09:30 BST / 10:30 CET. Meanwhile, check out the previous webinar on what to expect from new-car markets this year. Catch up on Autovista24’s coverage and watch the full session: Global new-car market outlook 2026.
