In early October 2022, the Russian market faced a sharp thinning of foreign cars from Europe, Japan, and the United States. The shelves that once held popular models from brands such as Mitsubishi, Skoda, Mazda, Volvo, Chevrolet, and Cadillac began to dwindle noticeably. Dealers representing Land Rover, Lexus, and BMW fared somewhat better, but even there the supply lines and inventory levels were under pressure as the week-by-week pace of arrivals slowed and consumer demand remained high for new vehicles.
Denis Reshetnikov, who heads the Fresh Auto dealership, remarked to Rossiyskaya Gazeta that their stock had exhausted the supply of Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen vehicles. The statement underscored a broader pattern across the market where several mainstream European makes vanished from showrooms and order books in the face of a complex mix of sanctions, logistical hurdles, and reduced import flows. The immediate consequence was a growing gap between customer expectations and the available catalog, forcing buyers to adjust to a more limited set of options and sometimes longer wait times for the more scarce models.
Despite these limitations, sales showed signs of resilience. National registration data compiled in late spring and early summer reflected an ongoing demand pull. Specifically, in May, 27,458 new cars were registered in the EPTS system; in June, registrations rose to 32,731; July saw 35,583 units, August tallied 42,593, and September reached 44,398. This ascent in monthly registrations suggested that customers who were in the market adapted by considering what was momentarily available, switching models or brands rather than delaying purchases altogether. Retail networks worked to promote whatever inventory remained, employing promotional incentives and financing options to keep the pace of consumer activity steady even as stock got tighter.
On the macro level, the broader official statistics released by the Automobile Manufacturers Committee of the Association of European Businesses (AEB) painted a picture of a markedly constricted market. The September data showed a 59.6% year-on-year decline in sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, with 46,698 units sold nationwide. When looking at the first nine months of the year, the decline deepened to 59.8%, totaling 508,661 cars sold. These figures captured a moment of profound shift in consumer behavior and supply chain dynamics, where demand persisted but the typical channels for bringing in new models were interrupted. Stakeholders in the industry began recalibrating expectations, exploring alternative sourcing routes, and emphasizing after-sales support and used-vehicle markets to offset the gaps created by restricted new-car imports. The resulting environment highlighted how external factors—ranging from sanctions to global shipping constraints—exert a direct influence on what ends up on dealership lots and, ultimately, what choices are available to drivers seeking new vehicles in Russia during that period.