Chinese carmakers represent 45% of the Russian market in the first 6 months of 2023
- The Russian passenger car market fell by 3% in the first half of 2023, compared to the first half of 2022, with a volume of 358,921 passenger cars compared to 370,228 units the previous year. We should logically reach 700,000 units over the whole of 2023, if the war with Ukraine continues, whereas in 2021, before the start of the war, we were still at a level close to 1,700 000 units.
- By carmaker, the Lada brand (Avtovaz group), which regained its independence last year, occupies 40% of the market, which had not happened for several decades, but in a strongly shrunken market. However, Lada's sales volume doubled year-on-year, from 75,000 units in the first half of 2022 to 144,000 units in the first half of 2023. But remember that in the first six months of 2021, Lada was selling in Russia 200,000 cars.
- Behind Lada, we note the presence of the Russian firm UAZ and especially the Chinese brands Chery, Great Wall, Geely, Changan, Dongfeng and FAW which represent a total of 45% of the Russian market in the first half of 2023 (and 162,000 cars sold) against 11% in the first half of 2022 (and 39,000 cars sold).
- All European, Japanese and Korean carmakers left the Russian market, following the outbreak of the war between Ukraine and Russia, which left the field open to Chinese carmakers.
- BEVs currently represent almost a null share of the Russian market. As for the best-selling car in Russia, it is the Lada Vesta, a low-end model designed by Renault when Renault owned Avtovaz.