Russian car sales jump in September as Chinese brands expand market share
(Reuters) – Car sales in Russia jumped by 148.6% year-on-year in September, continuing to rebound from a huge slump in 2022, analytical agency Autostat said on Wednesday, with Chinese brands expanding their market share.
Russia’s auto industry was heavily reliant on investment, equipment and parts from overseas and hit hard by the fallout from Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with sales plunging 59% in 2022 and many foreign automakers leaving the country.
Autostat, citing data from its partner consulting company PPK, said 110,358 cars were sold in September, compared with 44,398 in September 2022.
Autostat said seven of the top 10 spots by market share after Lada – the flagship model of Russia’s leading carmaker Avtovaz – were taken by Chinese automakers such as Haval, Chery and Geely, which have moved in to replace departing Western brands.
Chinese firms are also increasing their sales in Russia with vehicle assembly at factories vacated by the likes of Renault and Nissan, Reuters has found.
Avtovaz raised its forecast for passenger car and light commercial vehicle sales in the Russian market in 2023 to 1 million last week, from its previous estimate of 875,000.
(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Potter)
Uma Rajagopal has been managing the posting of content for multiple platforms since 2021, including Global Banking & Finance Review, Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune. Her role ensures that content is published accurately and efficiently across these diverse publications.