An unusually intense wave of selling has hit Baku’s car market, drawing widespread attention over the weekend.
According to BAKU.WS, hundreds of drivers flooded the market early in the morning, creating long traffic jams on roads leading to the area.
Finding an empty parking spot became nearly impossible as owners hurried to put their cars up for sale. The surge in listings has pushed market activity to record levels and raised questions about where prices are heading.
Why the sudden rush?
Chairman of the Azerbaijan Automobile Dealers Association Eyyub Aliyev noted that the situation reflects a sense of urgency among car owners.
“The tax exemption for hybrid and electric vehicles expires in January. VAT exemption also ends. Everyone wants to upgrade their car before that,” Aliyev said.
He noted that the market is now flooded with used vehicles as owners rush to sell before prices change.
Price pressure and early markups
While prices have not yet risen across the board, Aliyev said some opportunistic sellers have already increased prices by up to 2,000 manats, especially for newly imported hybrid cars.
“People understand that prices will climb even higher next year, and this has caused a rush. But buyers should not make hasty orders. Recently, fraud cases linked to car imports have increased,” he warned.
Aliyev advised customers to rely on official dealerships and showrooms, which offer greater price stability and security.
Used car prices down 40% – but set to rise again
The chairman noted that over the past year, used car prices in Azerbaijan have dropped by 40%. However, the market is expected to reverse course in 2026.
“Next year, prices for used cars are expected to rise by 15–20%,” he said.
With tax breaks ending, rising demand for hybrids, and a surge of sellers trying to beat next year’s increases, Azerbaijan’s car market is experiencing one of its most turbulent phases in recent years.
