In Moscow, at a conference hosted by Avtoboss and focused on the Chinese automotive sector in Russia, Autostat Executive Director Sergei Udalov offered an in-depth view of the current inventory situation. He highlighted how warehouses of dealers and distributors are accumulating Chinese-made vehicles, shedding light on the shifting market dynamics that are shaping sales and supply chains across the country. This assessment comes from Autostat and is widely referenced by industry observers.
Autostat’s data indicates that Chinese car sales in Russia for the first ten months of the year reached 406.5 thousand units, a figure that represents a 4.8-fold increase compared with the same period last year. During the same window, production at large vehicle facilities such as Avtotor and Haval rose to 153.4 thousand units, marking a 3.8-fold jump, while imports of Chinese cars amounted to 428.5 thousand units, also up about 3.8 times. Taken together, these figures imply a substantial build-up in the supply of Chinese models—roughly 175 thousand vehicles stored as inventory at distributors and dealerships. The data underscores a market that has seen rapid expansion in supply, even as demand continues to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and macroeconomic conditions.
Udalov noted that the market experienced a notable shortage in 2022, when vehicle availability lagged behind demand. In the current year, however, sales levels have dropped below total supply and production since the summer months, contributing to the inventory accumulation observed in distributor and dealer warehouses. He predicts intensified competition in the coming months as retailers strive to move existing stock and connect buyers with available models, a shift that could influence prices, financing options, and incentive programs across the sector.
Within the 2023 buyer landscape for popular Chinese brands in Russia, purchasers showed a preference for certain exterior colors, with white, gray, and black bodies being the most favored among mainstream models. This color trend was reported by Atilon, a major dealer network, which provided insights through its marketing director Andrey Kamensky. The observation aligns with broader market signals about consumer taste and brand positioning in a crowded Chinese-brand segment.
Earlier work produced by market researchers offered a portrait of the average Chinese car buyer in the Russian Federation, helping explain how color, trim, and feature sets resonate with buyers and influence purchase decisions across different regions and income levels. The evolving picture of consumer preferences continues to shape marketing strategies, financing offers, and after-sales service planning across the Chinese automotive segment in Russia. [Autostat data, attribution: Autostat researchers and executives; industry briefings]