USS, Japan's largest used-car auction operator, just posted its 11th consecutive year-over-year increase in average sale price.
According to figures reported by Nikkei and Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, the average price per vehicle sold at USS auctions in July 2026 came to roughly ¥1,345,000 — up 8.1% from a year earlier. Listings were also up sharply, rising 15.0% year-over-year to 352,947 units, while the number of cars sold rose 10.8% to 225,196.
Nikkei attributed the increase in part to strong export demand backed by a weak yen. The sell-through rate — a gauge of how tight supply and demand are at auction — fell 2.4 percentage points from a year earlier to 63.8%, as listings grew faster than completed sales. Even with that gap widening, the average sale price still finished above its year-earlier level.
For overseas buyers sourcing vehicles from Japan, the figures point to continued price pressure at USS auctions for now, though where prices head next will also depend on the yen, export demand, and the mix of vehicles coming to market.