Since 2016, the pace of Lifan sales in Russia has slowed steadily and has now fallen to zero. There are no new cars left in Russian warehouses, and last year’s figures show only 617 units sold, with 2020 recording 1,384 deliveries. Today, brand dealers mainly perform service and maintenance on cars that were already sold. The Lifan press line is quiet, with little public contact and sparse activity. This downturn mirrors a broader trend that has gripped the Chinese automotive segment in the region, where once-strong brands have faced a rapid shift in demand, regulatory changes, and a tightening of distribution networks that left little room for recovery.
To understand the pressure, it helps to rewind to the early part of the last decade. Lifan vehicles were among the most popular Chinese cars in Russia, with sales surpassing 20,000 units in some peak years. The strategy was straightforward and effective: offer affordable sedans and compact crossovers that appealed to price-conscious buyers. The vehicles Solano and X60 were assembled at the Derways plant in Cherkessk, a production arrangement that kept costs down while enabling broader market reach. That combination—low price, decent reliability, and local assembly—seemed to check the boxes for many Russian consumers seeking value for money.
Yet the decline did not stop with Lifan. Similar trajectories have appeared for other Chinese automakers, notably Brilliance and Zotye. In March 2022, Brilliance and Zotye posted zero sales, and year-to-date statistics from industry associations indicate that both brands recorded only a single unit sold within the year. The pattern is unmistakable: a shrinking footprint in the market, dwindling dealer networks, and a move away from these brands in favor of drivers who are more selective or who demand different product offerings. The broader market forces—economic shifts, rising competition from other low-cost brands, and a changing perception of after-sales support—have all contributed to this tightening circle around a once-promising lineup. The result is a market where brand presence has faded, and the once-active import channels have contracted to a fraction of their former scope, leaving limited room for a rebound with these specific names.