The stabilization of the ruble exchange rate is not expected to halt the ongoing rise in car prices across Russia. This view comes from Renat Tyukteev, Deputy General Manager of New Vehicle Sales at Avilon AG, who spoke with a Russian newspaper about market dynamics.
While the ruble’s stability matters, it remains only one of several factors pushing prices higher. Even with a steadier exchange rate, Tyukteev anticipates price increases across all market segments by year-end, with the most pronounced growth forecast for the autumn months. A key driver highlighted is the rising costs associated with recycling collections, which add to the overall expense structure for new vehicles.
Analysts note that vehicles imported via parallel channels are likely to see price pressures intensify more quickly than those from Chinese-brand manufacturers, where a developed dealer network and a tighter pricing policy help cushion some increases.
Evgeniy Zhitnukhin, head of the dealership department for the Fresh car market, explained that autumn price lists will reflect shifts in the exchange rate and the earnings of companies involved in exporting domestic raw materials and goods. Anna Utkina, communications director for the Avtodom Group of Companies and the AutoSpetsCenter Group, warned that even after a ruble strengthening, a broad decrease in new-car prices is not anticipated since a vehicle’s cost is influenced by more than currency moves alone.
Official data from Rosstat indicates that the average price of a new domestic car in Russia reached record levels in August, surpassing 1 million rubles, underscoring the sustained upward pressure on the market.
Market observers recall that pricing trends have moved in a similar pattern previously when Lada prices rose, signaling a continuing cycle of cost-driven increments tied to macroeconomic factors, supply-chain dynamics, and regulatory costs. These forces combine to shape the affordability and evolution of new-car pricing for Canadian and American buyers observing the Russian market.
In short, the current price trajectory is influenced by a blend of currency stability, input costs, expected autumn demand, and policy-driven factors related to recycling requirements and export activity. Stakeholders point out that while a stronger ruble can ease some imported-cost pressures, it does not automatically translate into lower sticker prices for most new vehicles. The broader message to policymakers and consumers is that vehicle pricing is increasingly sensitive to a spectrum of linked economic mechanisms, not a single lever.