Russia Vehicle Production Overview for September and the First Nine Months
Passenger car output dropped sharply in September, retreating 77.4 percent year over year to 23.8 thousand units, according to Rosstat. The month also showed a 3.8 percent dip from August, signaling a continuing slowdown in consumer vehicle manufacturing. Over the first nine months of the year, production totaled 349 thousand cars, which marks a substantial 65.9 percent decrease from the same period last year. This pattern points to a challenging year for domestic car makers as they confront demand, supply chain constraints, and broader macroeconomic pressures.
The segment of buses weighing more than five tons experienced a notable decline in September, down 21.1 percent from September of the previous year to 1.1 thousand units. However, compared with August 2022, the same category rose by 10.6 percent, suggesting a potential late-year rebound or shifting demand in heavy transportation. In the January-September window of 2022, this segment decreased by 12.2 percent to 8.8 thousand units, a figure lower than what was seen in the same period of 2021, highlighting evolving market dynamics across heavy urban and rural routes.
Buses under five tons were produced at a much slower pace in September, falling 51.4 percent to 1.1 thousand units, with a modest 0.6 percent increase versus August 2022. Across the first nine months, production totaled 8.5 thousand such buses, reflecting a steep 44.7 percent drop from the prior year. The trend in the lighter bus category aligns with broader shifts in fleet modernization, urban transit planning, and funding cycles that influence manufacturing volumes in the smaller bus segment.
Truck production in Russia also faced a decline, with output falling 33.8 percent to 11.7 thousand units in September. This figure edged up 5.4 percent from August 2022, signaling a possible easing of some month-on-month pressures. For the first half of the year, truck production reached 103.4 thousand units, representing a 20.4 percent decrease from the corresponding period last year. The combined data across truck classes illustrate a sector grappling with slower demand, production adjustments, and the ongoing effects of broader economic conditions on commercial vehicle sales and supply chains.