The Automobile Manufacturers Committee of the Association of European Businesses in Russia (AEB) released data showing a heavy decline in new car and light commercial vehicle sales for February 2023. The numbers reflect a sharp market contraction, with February 2023 posting a 62% drop year over year compared with February 2022, totaling 68,590 fewer units sold across the sector.
According to the AEB statement, February 2023 saw sales fall by 62.1%, equating to 68,590 units less than February 2022, when 41,851 vehicles were sold. This downturn underscores the challenging conditions facing the Russian automotive market amid broader economic and geopolitical pressures during that period.
Within the top sellers, AvtoVAZ maintained the strongest sales volume through February 2023, moving more than 23.4 thousand Lada brand vehicles. This marked a 5% increase compared with the same month in 2022. Following AvtoVAZ, Haval held second place with just over 5.3 thousand units, reflecting a 49% year-over-year rise. Geely claimed third position with sales exceeding 4 thousand vehicles, up 88% from February 2022, signaling a notable shift toward certain foreign brands in the market.
GAZ contributed over 2.6 thousand light commercial vehicles in February, down 31% from the previous year, while UAZ sold just over 1.5 thousand vehicles, a 9% decrease. These brands remained among the leading players in Russia’s January-to-February window, illustrating a diversified lineup across passenger cars and commercial models in a volatile market environment.
Looking at popular models, the Lada Granta continued its dominance as a top-seller, with more than 16.2 thousand units sold in Russia during the period, compared with 6.2 thousand in February 2022. The Lada Niva followed, tallying around 6.6 thousand units, up from 3.8 thousand a year earlier. In third place among popular models was the Chinese-made Haval Jolion, with sales surpassing 2.4 thousand units, highlighting the appeal of compact crossover options amid shifting consumer choices.
There were broader industry notes around vehicle safety and technology adoption during the period as brands pursued enhancements in braking and other systems to meet evolving standards. The market also showed continued interest in affordable popular models that blend practicality with emerging safety features, reflecting consumer priorities in a constrained environment.