March 2022 Russian Car Market: AEB Summary Highlights Chinese Brand Momentum
The Association of European Businesses provided a snapshot of new car registrations in Russia for March 2022, marking the arrival of spring with notable shifts in the lineup of bestsellers.
Two Chinese crossovers stood out in the Top 25 during the month. The Haval Jolion and the Geely Tugella both cracked the list, underscoring growing demand for affordable, well-equipped C-segment crossovers in the Russian market. Tugella, a midsize and relatively upscale model, sold 553 units and secured the 24th position, even surpassing the Skoda Kodiaq in that month. Jolion, a compact crossover, achieved 662 units sold in March, climbing to 21st place and approaching the sales figures of the Renault Sandero.
Geely Tugella
Looking at the quarterly picture for the first three months of 2022, the Haval Jolion stands alone as a Celestial Empire model among the Top 25, occupying 18th position in the first quarter. Sales for Jolion reached 3,629 units, placing it only a short distance behind Kia Seltos, which tallied 3,901 units in the same period. This early performance hints at a broader trend of rising Chinese brand presence in Russia despite wider market pressures.
Haval Jolion
In terms of market share, the GWM Group, which owns Haval and Great Wall, accounted for about 3 percent of the Russian market. Chinese giants Chery Group, including Chery and Cheryexeed brands, held a similar share at around 3.1 percent. These brands outpaced Mercedes-Benz at 2.6 percent and Geely at 2 percent. Other familiar names such as Mazda at 1.9 percent and Stellantis at 1.0 percent, including brands like Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Fiat, Chrysler and Jeep, trailed behind.
- Among the findings, Haval, Geely and Cheryexeed were three of the five brands that managed to increase sales in Russia during a general market slowdown.
- Details from the report can be read in Driving Magazine via Viber, where the publication shares additional insights and interviews about the market trends.
Behind the wheel, a closer look at these dynamics reveals how Chinese brands have balanced affordability with feature content to appeal to Russian buyers during a period of economic headwinds and shifting consumer confidence. The March results illustrate that the appeal of compact and midsize crossovers continues to grow, with Jolion and Tugella reinforcing the idea that value, efficiency, and brand perception are driving segment leadership for many newcomers to the Russian automotive scene. The broader takeaway is a nuanced narrative of competition where traditional players maintain footing while newer entrants carve out meaningful market share through a combination of pricing, styling, and practical performance.