BMW to Mercedes Seek Second-Hand Sales as Germany Slumps: Cars

With fewer and fewer Germans buying new cars, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG are trying the next-best thing: pushing second-hand models.

Counting on the cachet of their brands, German automakers are stepping up efforts to cash in on the growing used market as new-car demand withers. The push, which includes leasing offers and fast-track loans, helps attract new buyers for models beyond the reach of many consumers, increasing competition for mass-market nameplates.