New data from Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review (EVPR) for March reveals a strong month for trade alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).

Dealer Auction, which scooped the Innovation in Digital title at last week’s Great British Fleet Awards, report a substantial uplift in the average retail margin, increasing from £2,829 in February to £3,320 in March – one of the highest monthly figures recorded on Dealer Auction. Quarterly numbers were particularly encouraging, showing a 26% lift in average margin for Q1 year-on-year.

March proved to be a particularly strong month for EVs, with their sales share rising by a massive 78%. Despite remaining a small proportion of the overall sales share, “buyer intent is clear”, according to Dealer Auction.

The remarketing specialist also highlighted that rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing Iran conflict appear to be accelerating consumer interest in EVs. A report from The Independent cited figures from Octopus Electric Vehicles – which saw enquiries for EV leasing jump by 36% since the start of the conflict in the Middle East – and Autotrader, which saw new EV leads up 28% in less than a month and used EV enquiries rising by 15%.

Dealer Auction marketplace director Kieran TeeBoon said that while some of the statistics clearly relate to new vehicles, it will be interesting to see how this filters down to used vehicles.

“The increase in both interest and sales for EVs suggests that the Iran conflict – while a contributing factor – is not simply driving a short-term panic response. Instead, the data points to a shift in buyer behaviour, as consumers consider both the long-term transition to net zero and the immediate impact of rising fuel costs when choosing their next vehicle.”

Elsewhere on the Dealer Auction platform review, the average age of AFVs remained below five years, mirroring Q1 2026’s average of 4.9 years. Although the average increased slightly from 33,495 to 33,868 miles, it continues to reflect a clear preference for newer, lower-mileage vehicles.

Turning to model performance, March painted a more balanced picture after February’s hybrid-dominated charts. Notably, EVs secured three positions in the top 10 retail margin rankings: the Tesla Model X (third), Volkswagen ID.3 (sixth) and a first-time entry for the Jaguar I-PACE (ninth). The hybrid Volvo XC60 topped the retail margin charts for both the month and the quarter, demonstrating consistent performance.

The Tesla Model X proved competitively priced, leading the top 10 for CAP Clean performance, plus a standout profit margin. It also ranked as a top performer across the quarter. The electric Renault Scenic E-Tech secured fifth place for CAP Clean EVs and also performed well in terms of sales volume. The Nissan LEAF and Tesla Model Y ranked third and ninth respectively.

Overall, hybrids continued to dominate, with Lexus in particular enjoying a strong showing – with three models appearing in the CAP clean chart and two models in the retail margin top 10.

Across Q1, several standout models emerged. The hybrid Hyundai Tucson achieved the second-highest sales volume and secured a top 10 CAP performance position in March. The Tesla Model X maintained strong momentum, ranking in the top 10 for retail margin across the quarter, while the Volvo XC60 consistently led the retail margin charts.

TeeBoon concluded: “Data from both this month and across the first quarter highlights a strong foundation in the EV market, with growing interest increasingly converting into sales. It will be interesting to see how these patterns evolve in the coming months, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical developments and continued growth in the AFV sector.”