May brings new colors to the Russian car market as sales shift across brands
The Russian automotive market, while still showing a dramatic pulse, did not record fatal losses in May. Data from the Association of European Businesses (AEB) reveals that Renault models remained prominent in the Top 25 bestsellers, though several of these models faced pressure. The Duster, a model known for its staying power, experienced a softer tempo, while XRAY, Polo, and Rapid ceded some ground. Kia continued to strengthen its position, with several of its models faring well in the ranking.
Several traditional favorites held their ground at the top of the list. Granta, Vesta, Rio, Creta, Niva, and Solaris remained among the most popular choices. The top ten also included Largus, Duster, Sportage, and Seltos. Yet the landscape showed notable shifts just outside the top tier, where the Chinese entrant Geely Coolray rose to rank 11 in May with a solid 473 units sold, signaling a growing appeal for urban crossovers in the Russian market.
Geely Coolray
In total, May saw Geely secure seventh place among the car brands represented in the Russian Federation with 907 cars sold. Right behind Geely was another Chinese manufacturer, Haval, which moved 892 units. Within Haval’s lineup, the Jolion compact crossover accounted for 425 of those sales, placing it just behind the Coolray and illustrating the strength of crossovers in this segment. The Jolion’s momentum marked a steady ascent in the market, even as the Rapid continued to lose some of its earlier prominence.
Haval Jolion
Looking at January through May combined, Jolion’s performance stood out as a natural trend for Geely’s lineup. While the Coolray did not appear in the Top 25 early in the year, Jolion consistently climbed the ranks and occupied the 18th position with a total of 4,404 units sold across the period. In doing so, Jolion surpassed models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage, Renault Sandero, Lada XRAY, Renault Kaptur, Renault Arkana, and Kia Cerato, signaling a broader shift toward Chinese crossovers in the market.
- Two Chinese crossovers advanced into the Top 25 earlier in the year, with Jolion leading the way for Haval in the rankings, highlighting the evolving consumer preference within the segment.
- A detailed review of market performance and consumer reception can be accessed through regional automotive platforms and industry summaries that provide ongoing coverage of brand movements and model competitiveness.