Development of the used car market: a comparative economic analysis of trends, risks and opportunities in the USA and Ukraine

Abstract

The development of the used car market is an important direction for research both in countries with a developed economy and in states with a transitional model. In the conditions of growing economic instability, fluctuating exchange rates and global changes in supply chains, there is a transformation of consumer demand and the supply structure in this segment. For Ukraine, where the used car market has become an alternative to the high price threshold of new vehicles, the study of the American experience - one of the most mature and stable markets - acquires special significance. The purpose of the article is a comparative economic analysis of key trends, influencing factors, risks and promising opportunities for the development of the used car market in the USA and Ukraine with an emphasis on the possibility of adapting successful practices and institutions. Methods. The research uses general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, comparative-historical and statistical methods, as well as a structural-functional approach to assessing market dynamics. An analysis of secondary data, including official statistics, reports of profile organizations, market surveys, and cases of regulatory practice was carried out. Results. It was established that in the USA the used car market is characterized by a high degree of digitalization, institutional maturity and support from financial instruments, while in Ukraine it develops against the background of institutional instability, dependence on imports and fluctuating exchange rates. Among the key factors affecting the dynamics of supply and demand, the level of income of the population, availability of credit, regulatory policy and international trade restrictions are identified. Foreign political and economic risks have been identified, including the introduction of import duties in the USA, which can transform global traffic flows and affect the Ukrainian market. Conclusions. Based on the analysis, promising directions for the development of the Ukrainian market based on the American experience are proposed: digitization of purchase and sale procedures, legal regulation of vehicle condition assessment, expansion of consumer financing tools, and introduction of ecological adaptation mechanisms. These measures are able to increase the transparency of the market, strengthen the confidence of consumers and reduce costs at all stages of the circulation of used cars. In addition, targeted implementation of such practices can contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector and its integration into global supply chains.