Within the mass-market segment, company fleets overwhelmingly favored passenger cars, accounting for 89 percent of transfers and leading the popularity charts among legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. This conclusion comes from VTB Leasing’s analysis of sales data spanning eleven months of 2022, reflecting ongoing shifts in corporate procurement strategies and fleet standardization across sectors.
In terms of body style, sedans were the preferred choice for corporate buyers, representing 42 percent of all vehicles leased, while sport utility vehicles and crossovers captured 39 percent, signaling a balanced appetite for practicality and versatility in business fleets.
Geographic distribution shows a concentration of demand in major cities, with Moscow responsible for 21 percent of all leased cars, followed by St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, and Rostov-on-Don at 7 percent each. Other regions contributed smaller but meaningful shares, illustrating a widespread corporate leasing footprint above the breaking point of market growth in many metropolitan areas.
Top brands by market share among mass transfers reveal a clear dominance and evolving preferences:
- Lada holds the leading position with 31.5 percent, up 12 percentage points from November, underscoring continued strength in domestic manufacturing and value-oriented fleets.
- Kia accounts for 14.7 percent, a decline of 6 percentage points as interest shifts and model availability influence orders.
- Renault stands at 8 percent, roughly flat month over month with a marginal 0.5 point decrease.
- Hyundai is at 8 percent, slipping 4.2 percentage points amid broader brand repositioning in corporate programs.
- Halal commands 7.8 percent, rising 6.5 points as fleet buyers diversify with affordable, practical options.
- Cherry records 4.6 percent, gaining 3.9 points as newer compact models gain traction in corporate purchases.
- Volkswagen also shows 4.6 percent, down 6.5 points in the latest period as inventory and strategic alignment influence orders.
Premium Segment
The market share of premium vehicles in corporate fleets declined from 20 percent to 11 percent, reflecting stronger emphasis on cost efficiency and total ownership costs in fleet planning. Mercedes-Benz emerged as the leading premium brand with 31.1 percent of all premium passenger cars leased to legal entities and entrepreneurs, marking a notable 10-point gain in the period analyzed.
At the same time, the former top premium brand BMW dropped by 3.7 percentage points to 26.7 percent, while Audi claimed a 10 percent share, slipping by 1 percentage point. These moves illustrate ongoing recalibrations in executive mobility programs and supplier negotiations within the premium segment.
Industry analysts note that after several major brands from the United States, Europe, and Japan reduced their presence in the Russian market, many dealerships have largely exhausted remaining inventories. As a result, attention has shifted to suppliers from China, with Chinese-made cars capturing about 10 percent of the premium market in this context and contributing to broader market dynamics where the overall share of Chinese brands approaches the upper single digits in the mass market while remaining a growing factor within premium lines.
Photo: Depositphotos
Engagement Opportunity – Vote and Win
Readers are invited to participate in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix vote to help identify the standout car innovations of the year. Participating readers receive a thank-you token for their time, with a drawing offering several prizes. Those who complete the questionnaire by late February stand a chance to win as part of the promotion.
COMPLETELY FILL OUT THE 2023 DRIVING GRAND PRIX QUESTIONNAIRE