In May 2022, the market for right-hand drive vehicles in Russia saw a notable uptick, rising by about thirty to forty percent from the same month a year earlier, according to data gathered by the Drom classification team and reported by socialbites.ca. The surge was driven in part by a stronger ruble, which made Japanese used cars more affordable for Russian buyers once again.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, a model currently facing scarcity at dealerships and priced at roughly five to six million rubles domestically, appeared to become a viable import from Japan at around three million rubles. With the ruble appreciating and the yen at a comparatively low level, the timing seemed favorable for bringing in a vehicle from Japan, according to Maria Pogrebets, the press secretary for the Drome automotive website, in an interview cited by socialbites.ca.
Over the past two months, the 2018–2019 Prado generation has drawn particular interest. Aleksey, who serves as senior manager at Japan Life, a company that imports cars and handles clearance from Japan, noted a tenfold increase in Prado SUVs entering Russia.
The prevailing exchange rates have created a scenario where buyers can secure a more economical vehicle than in the previous year. Many customers are not purchasing these cars for resale; instead, they are opting to drive and own right-hand drive vehicles themselves. The shift is visible as more first-time buyers, drawn by favorable pricing, take the plunge into owning a Japanese import.
For readers seeking to understand which Japanese models are most affordable right now and how long this trend might endure, coverage can be found in Gazet.Ru, which has examined the evolving landscape and potential future movements in the market.