In the current climate of halted automobile production in Russia, several brand dealerships have begun accepting orders to secure vehicles. Hyundai, for instance, continues to supply cars assembled in Korea, despite the broader disruption in the market. A field report from socialbites.ca confirms that Tucson models can still be ordered, with delivery timelines now extended. The supplier noted that earlier shipments often came from Kaliningrad, whereas the most recent arrivals originated from Korea. While deliveries remain possible, the typical one-month wait has grown to about two months in many cases.
The press service of Chery Russia indicated that imports of Chinese brands Chery and Exeed persist, and that the Haval plant in the Tula region remains operational with local assembly and distribution to dealerships. A representative from the Geely Moscow region dealership also confirmed that supply from the factory in Belarus encounters no material issues. These notes collectively illustrate a mixed picture: some brands maintain a footprint, while others grapple with significant delays.
Compared with the situation noted at the start of April, only a handful of brands such as Skoda, Kia, Nissan, Hyundai, Haval, and Chery still show limited ongoing deliveries to the country. One industry source described the scenario as a phase of prepaid shipments winding down, with many automakers focusing on domestic brands or pausing new imports altogether. Dealers report that when shipments do occur, they are often arranged through alternative routes and sometimes rely on freight of parts rather than complete vehicles, moving through Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Georgia to reach markets. These routes reflect a broader pattern of improvisation rather than a stable, predictable supply chain.
Conversations with most foreign automaker offices reveal a tendency to refrain from commenting on the current status of vehicle arrivals or potential resumption of imports. Mercedes-Benz stated that passenger cars and commercial vehicles designated for Russia are currently suspended from new exports until further notice. Dealers caution that several new brands are unlikely to reappear on the market in the near term.
Within official networks, the prospect of fresh deliveries remains uncertain. At the Moscow headquarters of Skoda, staff indicated that no shipments are expected before year-end. Toyota has suspended all import activity for its entire model range, with a specific note that only a single vehicle configuration remains available in certain centers. The situation reflects an absence of new arrivals and a lack of clarity around the timing of future shipments.
Concurrently, Japanese export controls related to luxury goods limit shipments of vehicles priced above a threshold while similar constraints affect lower-priced models as well. Amid these curbs, AvtoVAZ has announced a restart of local assembly, with the Lada Granta entering simplified trim lines on the production line. Dealerships in Samara and Tolyatti have signaled expectations for only such models in the foreseeable future, underscoring ongoing supply limitations across the market.
Industry executives emphasize that ordering directly from factories is not feasible under the current conditions. Buyers must instead select from dealer stock, while executives acknowledge the difficulty in forecasting timelines given the uncertain geopolitical landscape and the volatile state of local production and shipments. A senior executive from the Avilon automotive group notes that long-term forecasts are impractical at present, and new-car inflows are constrained by limited stock across segments. Analysts warn that most premium models may have only a couple of months of inventory remaining, suggesting that buyers face a narrow window for securing certain vehicles. An executive from Avtodom remarks that new models and fresh supply are unlikely to improve until regional stability returns.
Across the market, stock shortages persist. Dealers anticipate sustaining volumes for a trading window of approximately two to five months, while premium-brand inventories could evaporate within one to two months. Market observers stress that the backdrop of sanctions and supply constraints continues to reshape consumer access to new cars, with availability largely driven by existing dealer stock and limited imports. The overall mood among industry leaders is that the near term will remain challenging for buyers who expect a broad range of choices. This ongoing situation underscores the need for cautious planning and flexible expectations as the market navigates through geopolitical and supply-chain headwinds.