The weighted average price of a new passenger car in Russia in 2022 reached 2 million 380 thousand rubles, marking a 20% rise from the previous year, according to Avtostat. This uptick occurred amid a period of cost pressures across the automotive supply chain, including shifts in production costs, foreign exchange movements, and adjustments in distributor pricing strategies. The figure reflects how dealers balanced inventory costs with consumer demand, and it serves as a barometer for the overall affordability of new cars in the Russian market during that year.
In spring, the cost price of cars climbed sharply as manufacturers and distributors faced higher input costs and logistics challenges. Even though the market contracted significantly, with sales falling by about 59%, those elevated production and logistics costs continued to influence the final weighted average price. The result was a price environment where affordability for buyers was tempered by persistent cost-to-serve pressures, shaping purchasing decisions through the year.
Looking back to 2021, the average price for a new car hovered near 2 million rubles, illustrating a last year of strong price stabilization before the surge observed in 2022. Earlier decades show another trend line: in 2014 the average price was around 1 million rubles, underscoring a multi-year arc of gradual price growth driven by inflation, market demand, and model diversification. These historical points help explain how the market evolved toward the higher price levels seen in the early 2020s.
Analysts note that the annual shifts in the weighted average price are influenced by multiple variables, including model mix, changes in engine size, alterations to powertrain configurations, and transmission and body styles. The calculation typically combines the average prices recommended by distributors with the corresponding sales volumes for each model, incorporating the impact of substantive product updates and feature sets. This methodology captures how new model introductions and revisions can tilt the overall price picture from year to year.
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Source: Autostat