In February, the prices of models brought into Russia by dealers through parallel imports moved upward. This trend was observed after a reporter from Autonews.ru spoke with several Moscow auto traders to gather on-the-ground insights.
Take, for instance, the early and middle months of 2023 when Chinese suppliers were actively delivering the Volkswagen Bora sedan to Russia. Over time, the model largely vanished from domestic showrooms. A manager at a Moscow dealership noted there were no upcoming plans to reintroduce the Bora. The remaining units became more costly: what could be bought for about 2.4 million rubles previously now starts near 2.6 million rubles.
The same period saw the Peugeot 207i hatchback of Iranian origin carry a higher price tag. August 2023 pricing started around 1.4 million rubles, and by February the model was available from roughly 1.8 million rubles.
Not all models followed a rising curve. Some carried lower prices in February, marking a noticeable shift. For example, the Chinese crossover Soueast DX8S could be bought for about 2.2 million rubles, down from the earlier level of 2.6 million rubles. Conversely, the Jetta VS7 remained comparatively expensive, offered at about 2.6 million rubles instead of 3.3 million rubles previously.
These movements illustrate a broader pattern: discounts on Chinese cars often prove unprofitable for buyers in Russia, with price adjustments influenced by supply dynamics, import channels, and the evolving market landscape for parallel imports.