August Imports Expand Premium Car Choices
In August, parallel imports brought new Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and Volkswagen vehicles to the Russian market. Representatives from car dealer holdings, who also sell officially imported cars, shared this update with socialbites.ca.
Dealers primarily import premium segment models because they offer higher margins, according to Andrey Olkhovsky, CEO of the Avtodom group. He spoke with socialbites.ca to explain the trend.
Estimates place monthly volumes of cars officially imported through parallel channels at about 2,000 to 3,000 units. The source notes that current conditions allow such supplies to be targeted, and they cannot compete with official imports from manufacturers under normal circumstances.
The main sources for parallel imports are the United Arab Emirates and Germany, Olkhovsky adds.
Alexei Starikov, Deputy General Manager of New Car Sales at Avilon Group, says parallel imports should support dealer stock replenishment and improve sales dynamics in the market.
However, Gazeta highlights that there is a global shortage of certain models in the industry. Parallel imports are not a cure-all, and it is difficult to predict their exact impact in the coming months.
Avtodom representatives will offer warranty certificates for cars acquired through parallel imports. The dealership emphasizes that cars imported via parallel channels do not come with an importer warranty, and customers can purchase the dealer’s warranty as an additional financial product through the press service of the company.
Volkswagen
Traditionally limited to gasoline and diesel options in Russia, Volkswagen now offers electric drives through dealer channels as part of parallel imports.
Three‑row Volkswagen ID.6 Crozz crossovers in the Crozz variant entered the market at around 4.5 million rubles. This model was developed for the Chinese market and produced in the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture, debuting in China in 2021.
The ID.6 Crozz matches the Touareg in size and uses a 180-horsepower three‑phase electric motor with rear-wheel drive, reaching 0–100 km/h in 9.3 seconds. The NEDC range is 439 km per charge. An all‑wheel‑drive version exists in China but has not yet arrived in Russia. The cabin is modern, with minimal physical buttons and a 12-inch infotainment display, plus features such as three‑zone climate control, voice control, blind‑spot monitoring, and lane‑keeping assist. Adaptive cruise control is also available.
Land Rover
Plans for the spring to launch the fifth generation Range Rover in Russia were hinted at on the official site, but the vehicles did not reach dealers through official channels at that time. By August, these models appeared in dealerships, priced at about 32.5 million rubles.
Two variants are offered: diesel and gasoline. The diesel D350 uses a 3.0-liter inline six with 350 horsepower, while the gasoline P530 features a 4.4-liter twin‑turbo V8 delivering 530 horsepower and sprinting to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The Autobiography package adds 22-inch alloy wheels, climate control across three zones, door closers, a Meridian audio system, and a 13.1-inch touchscreen paired with rear-wheel steering.
Additionally, dealers began importing the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Sport through parallel channels, including some models produced this year.
Mercedes-Benz
The much‑anticipated Mercedes-Benz EQS started sales in August, aided by parallel import deliveries. Dealers list the car at around 20 million rubles in mid‑level configurations, with the 580 4Matic all‑wheel drive version delivering 524 horsepower from two electric motors. It can accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and travel up to 676 km on a full charge.
The EQS features a large 56‑inch multimedia screen, haptic feedback, and a head‑up display with augmented reality. The system includes an air suspension that adapts ground clearance to speed, power doors, and parking support. The petrol Mercedes models also arrived, with imports of the 2022 GLC crossovers showing engines of 197 hp or 249 hp at prices around 6 million rubles.
Lexus
Lexus LX premium SUVs are available through dealers, even though official sales did not begin earlier in the year. The most affordable Executive variants start around 17 million rubles, nearly double the price initially announced by Lexus Russia in February.
The LX uses a 3.5-liter twin‑turbocharged V6 petrol engine. It comes with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 7-inch secondary touchpad. Most trims include a 25‑speaker Mark Levinson audio system. In addition, the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, built on the same platform as the LX, continues to be imported via parallel channels. Official sales began a year ago.
What is the risk of buying
Independent automotive industry consultant Sergei Burgazliev warns that warranty service is a key risk with parallel import vehicles. The warranty previously provided by a manufacturer’s authorized representative may no longer apply. Buyers should carefully review all contract terms, as the seller may not cover service costs in the future.
Burgazliev notes that the legal status of cars imported through unofficial channels is not fully clear, which can make banks cautious about financing these vehicles. Automobiles expert Igor Morzharetto adds that some models intended for other markets may not be well suited to Russian winter conditions. UAE‑built cars often have strong air conditioning but weaker heating systems, which may affect operation at -30°C. In contrast, UAE offerings generally lack warmed steering wheels, washer nozzles, and heated seats beyond basic options.
These considerations influence buyer expectations and help explain why parallel imports remain a mixed solution for the Russian car market.
Sources cited in this overview adopt a cautious tone, highlighting the evolving landscape and the need for thorough review before purchase. Attribution: [citation for industry insights from socialbites.ca]
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This broader trend underscores the evolving landscape of automotive financing as more households consider purchase options tied to the economy’s current pace and the availability of vehicles in the market.nWhen lined up against the same month a year earlier, loans issued for new cars rose sharply in unit terms and in ruble value, signaling a robust jump in financing activity. Specifically, new car lending doubled in volume and increased about 2.6 times in monetary terms. For used cars, the picture was also positive, showing a 31% rise in the number of loans and a 66% lift in ruble terms. These gains point to a healthy appetite for both new and pre-owned vehicles, with buyers leveraging credit to secure favorable terms amid fluctuating prices and the presence of different fuel and tech configurations that have diversified consumer choice.nHowever, the September figures did not match August’s pace. In units, new car loans were down by about 1% month over month, and in rubles there was a 2% decline. Used car lending showed a more pronounced month-to-month dip, with a 10% drop in loan counts and an 11% decrease in ruble value. Avtostat notes that these August-to-September fluctuations reflect a market stabilizing after a surge in parallel imports during July, a trend that temporarily boosted supply and influenced consumer confidence. Additional headwinds include the seasonal tightening of imports and stricter recycling and environmental policies that nudge buyers toward different purchasing timelines and financing decisions. Analysts interpret these dynamics as a balancing act: markets respond to policy incentives, import patterns, and the lag between new vehicle availability and consumer demand, which then settles into a steadier rhythm as autumn unfolds.nLooking at the year so far, analysts highlight a striking acceleration in vehicle lending across the nine-month period. New car loans rose by 73 percent in unit terms and 98 percent in rubles, while second-hand car loans climbed by 70 percent in units and 116 percent in rubles. This momentum signals a broadening credit footprint within the auto market. It suggests that lenders have been expanding their offerings, while consumers continue to view car ownership as a durable financial asset and a practical response to shifting mobility needs. The data also reflect a higher propensity to finance rather than pay upfront, a pattern that aligns with the broader credit environment and the need to preserve liquidity while navigating price volatility in both new and used vehicle segments.nOn a related note, AvtoVAZ had previously indicated that Lada cars would be accessible at factory prices. This announcement added another layer to the market’s pricing dynamics by potentially offering a price anchor in a period of fluctuating imports and evolving supply chains. The implication is that factory-price access to popular models could influence buyer behavior, affect loan structuring, and shape seasonal demand for a wide range of customers across the region.””,meta_title_variants”:[“Car Loan Market September 2023 Update US & Canada””,September 2023 Auto Loans: New & Used Vehicles Growth””,Avtostat Report: September Vehicle Lending Trends””,Lada Factory Prices & Auto Financing Trends””,US & Canada Car Loan Trends September 2023″]”,meta_description_variants”:[“Latest September 2023 vehicle loan data shows strong growth for new and used cars in the US and Canada, with notable monthly shifts.””,Avtostat analysis reveals how September loan activity for cars evolved, including Lada factory price impacts and import trends.””, September 2023 auto lending insights outline rising loan volumes for new and used cars and market stabilization.””,How September 2023 auto loans performed; new vs used, import impact, and Lada factory pricing.””,Vehicle lending in September 2023 shows resilient growth for both new and used cars across North America.”]} }json to be parsed by system Russia’s Auto Market: Stock Shortages, Parallel Imports, and New Models How Russia’s Car Market Adapts to Gray Imports and Chinese Brand Comebacks Affordable new-car options and market trends in Russia’s mid-budget segment How the Russian auto market shifted as brands paused or exited