Is An Old Stock Electric With A High Discount Worth It

Well the asking prices for old stock 2024 electric cars are very tempting right now.

Well, it can be a good idea to buy an old stock or even demo electric car, but it’s important to consider a few factors. Old stock or demo cars, especially those used for test drives, can offer significant discounts compared to new cars, while still being in excellent condition with relatively low mileage.

However, the warranty on an old stock or demo car starts when its first registered, so you might have a shorter warranty period than if you bought a brand new car.

Weigh the cost savings against the potential wear and tear and the impact on the remaining warranty period. 

If buying an old stock or demo EV, the battery range might have been slightly reduced due to previous usage, especially if it was a model with early battery technology.

Before you buy take note of the following:

Battery Health: Old stock or demo EVs may have been charged to 100% repeatedly as the dealership likes to keep the battery full as much of the time as possible, potentially affecting battery health in the long term. Request a battery health report from the dealer and make sure all software has been updated close to current date.

Research: Compare prices of new and old stock/demo vehicles with similar features and mileage.

Inspect Thoroughly: Examine the car for any signs of damage, inside and out, as you would with any used car. 

Check the Warranty: Understand when the warranty started and what it covers. 

Consider the Mileage: If the mileage is significant, factor that into your decision and negotiate accordingly. 

Technology Updates: Electric car technology evolves rapidly, and an old stock or demo car may have older technology compared to the latest models.

Test Drive: Take the old stock/demo car for a test drive to assess its performance and handling.

Now, take for example the Leapmotor C10 advertised here. This is a large very well equipped electric car with up to date features and technology that was priced at RM149k (this is a RM10k discount from its launch price in 2024) in January 2025. Recently its selling price was reduced to RM125k.