Visitor Arrives in the Heat of Summer.
The scorching summer sun is illuminating the Russian automobile market, and experts are buzzing with optimism. June's sales have captivated everyone's attention, with whispers of a minor upswing in credit and leasing sales floating around. Some buyers, after receiving a positive signal from the CB rate, might decide to wait for more opportune conditions before making their purchases.
Preliminary estimates suggest that the first full week of summer, from June 2 to 8, showed a slight drop of 0.7% compared to the previous week, reaching 23,560 car units, as calculated by "Autostat." The top five models for the week were the Lada Granta (3,070 units), Lada Vesta (1,660 units), Chinese Haval Jolion (1,040 units), Changan UNI-S (806 units), and Lada Largus (653 units).
Dealers predict that June's sales might hover around the 100,000-car mark, considering the stable state of the Russian automobile market. Positive dynamics were observed in the segments of light commercial and trucks, exhibiting an increase of 0.5% to 1,740 units and 10% to 783 units, respectively, according to "Autostat."
Andrei Terlyukevich, general director of the GK "Avtospeccenter," foresees a rather stable June for the Russian automobile market, with no significant spikes in demand. Citing the population's continued appreciation for deposits and the significant subsidies offered by manufacturers on credit rates for new cars, he indicates that these factors will keep prices steady.
Nikolai Ivanov, the director of the new car department at the company "Rolf," agrees with the forecast, stating that a single percentage point reduction in the key rate is insignificant and would unlikely affect business, corporate lending, or demand. Similarly, Maxim Kadakov, the chief editor of the magazine "Behind the Wheel," shares the sentiment, expressing confidence that prices will remain the same as they were two or three weeks ago.
Alexander Kornev, head of the import department at "Gazprombank Avtolizing," explains that the reduction in the rate offers a glimmer of hope for a revival in credit and leasing sales. However, other dealers and experts convey uncertainty, suggesting that the rate cut may not necessarily increase demand but possibly slow it down.
Maxim Sokolov, head of AvtoVAZ, recently stated, "Regarding the sales forecast for June, the first week will undoubtedly be the most indicative."
While precise predictions for June 2021 sales are elusive without specific data from that period, it is reasonable to assume that the market would maintain stability based on the broader context, less influenced by the geopolitical changes and the subsequent shift towards Chinese brands that occurred in the following years.
Sports enthusiasts might find a break from the scorching summer heat by tuning into live coverage of the Russian automobile market. With experts predicting that June's sales might hover around the 100,000-car mark, the race for top-selling models is expected to be intense.
