Chinese car brands gain ground in the Russian market
Recent weekly data on new passenger car sales in Russia show a notable shift toward Chinese brands. For the week from September 26 to October 2, 2022, analysts tracked by Avtostat, referencing PPK JSC, recorded a total of 2,562 passenger cars sold by dealerships representing Chinese brands. This strengthens the narrative that Chinese automakers are expanding their footprint in Russia more rapidly than ever before.
Top three brands for the week of September 26 to October 2
- Lada – 3,298 units
- Chery – 1,091 units
- Haval – 658 units
In that period, Chinese brands captured 29.4% of total new-car sales, marking the highest market share ever achieved by Chinese manufacturers in Russia. The momentum comes as a counterbalance to other brands, with domestic makers maintaining a sizable presence yet showing a smaller growth trajectory.
Domestic brands stood at 39.8% of the week’s sales, while Korean automakers managed only about 12.8% of the market, reflecting a period of uncertainty for that segment in Russia. The shifting preferences point to a broader trend: buyers are increasingly choosing Chinese models over traditional European and Japanese options, a tendency that includes active participation in trade-ins for newer Chinese vehicles.
These movements in consumer behavior are part of a larger picture where a growing share of the Russian market is turning toward Chinese brands, signaling stronger competition for established players and a potential rebalancing of brand loyalties in the near term.
For readers who want the full context, the data come from a collaboration between Avtostat and PPK JSC, illustrating how market shares evolve in a week-by-week cadence and how trade-in activity can accelerate the adoption of Chinese models among Russian buyers.