BEATIN' 'ROUND THE BLOCK: CAR SALES IN RUSSIA
Vehicle sales in Russia have experienced growth.
Springtime has graced us with warmer temperatures and a surge in car sales! April saw a much-needed boost after the dismal performance in March, with a 28% increase in new light vehicle sales, totaling 100,390 units nationwide. However, compared to the first four months of 2024, we're still looking at a 27% decrease in overall sales.
The AvtoVAZ Fallout
Russian automaker AvtoVAZ, once a Power Player, took the hardest hit in April. Despite maintaining the lead among brands, its share has dropped from 31.4% to 28.4%, and sales have plummeted by 33%. Meanwhile, Chinese giants Haval and Chery have also seen declines of 12% and 16% respectively.
However, the belstupid (Belarusian brand Belgee, manufactured using Chinese Geely cars) has managed to trump the competition with a nearly 30% increase in sales! And Solaris, hot on the heels of Korean brands Hyundai and Kia, sold an impressive 2,300 units, marking a whopping 130% increase from April 2024! Unfortunately, Solaris fell short of breaking into the top 10 most popular models for the year so far.
The Politics of Parking Lots
Rising sales figures don't necessarily mean an overall sales recovery. Anton Shaparov, Vice-President of the National Automobile Union, suggests that the increase is attributable to overstocked warehouses and dealers trying to attract buyers with discounts and price cuts. Negotiations between Chinese brands' head offices and Russian distributors seem to be lacking, causing a backlog of unsold cars and excess inventory.
As a result, the overall number of unsold cars remains staggeringly high at around 500,000 units! Once these older inventory stocks run out, car prices are expected to skyrocket, impacting future market dynamics.
The Lot's Leading Ladies
Here's a rundown of the top-selling brands for the year:
| Brand | Sales Jan-Apr 2024 | Sales Jan-Apr 2025 | Dynamics ||------|-------------------|---------------------|----------|| Lada | 134,900 | 105,874 | -22% || Haval | 52,939 | 44,133 | -17% || Chery | 45,473 | 36,621 | -19% || Geely | 48,449 | 23,090 | -52% || Changan | 28,516 | 17,315 | -39% || Belgee | 7,364 | 10,154 | +38% || ... | | | |
Racing for the Top Spot
As for the most popular models for the first quarter:
| Model | Sales Jan-Apr 2024 | Sales Jan-Apr 2025 | Dynamics ||------|-------------------|---------------------|----------|| Lada Granta | 62,376 | 44,706 | -28% || Lada Vesta | 37,374 | 30,445 | -19% || Haval Jolion | 22,170 | 17,394 | -22% || Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max | 14,041 | 15,193 | +8% || Lada Niva Travel | 17,881 | 11,766 | -34% || ... | | | |
The Second-hand Scene
Contrary to the new car market, used car sales have remained steady, with minor fluctuations. In April alone, 548,824 cars changed hands, marking a 3% decrease compared to the same month last year, but a 13% increase from March.
Leading the pack, once again, are Lada, followed by Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai, with Russian-made cars accounting for about a third of used car sales nationwide.
Gettin' Ready for Round Two
With market dynamics at an interesting turning point, it's anyone's game as we head into the summer months. Stay tuned for updates on the Russian auto market!
Related Articles
- Lada "Izh" axed: New model launch scheduled for summer 2025
- Electric vehicle sales in Russia plummet nearly threefold
- Despite the overall decrease in sales, Toyota showed notable resilience in the used car market in April, holding a significant position among brands that account for about a third of nationwide used car sales.
- As temperatures rise and summer approaches, dealerships across Russia are ready to offer competitive prices and discounts to attract buyers, aiming to reduce the noticeable overstocking that has been a notable factor in the auto market.
- The unpredictable weather this summer could potentially influence car sales, with potential buyers considering factors such as fuel efficiency and off-road capabilities when making purchase decisions.
