Dealers distributing cars imported into Russia via parallel import channels have quietly eased prices for two popular crossovers, the Volkswagen Teramont and the Citroen C5 Aircross. The shift was reported by Autonews.ru and reflects a broader pattern of price adjustments in the domestic market as import routes evolve and consumer demand fluctuates. The Teramont, which arrives from China through non-official import streams, now appears at noticeably more attractive price points compared with the recent past, signaling sellers’ attempts to attract buyers in a competitive landscape where official supply remains constrained by currency fluctuations and regulatory considerations. The latest observations point to a notable narrowing of the gap between the pre-discount level and current offers, illustrating a strategy to maintain volume while managing margins in a volatile retail environment. (Autonews.ru)
In the specific case of the Volkswagen Teramont, a major Russian dealer was observed listing a model from China at approximately 7.84 million rubles. This figure marks a reduction from February 2024, when the same configuration was marketed around 8.0 million rubles. The vehicle under discussion is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine delivering 220 horsepower, a seven-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. The price move, though modest on the surface, can be meaningful for buyers who weigh total ownership costs, including insurance and maintenance, alongside purchase price. The observed discount underscores how retailers leverage parallel imports to adjust sticker prices in response to market demand, supply chain status, and currency conditions. (Autonews.ru)
Similarly, the Citroen C5 Aircross offered through parallel-import channels from China has seen its price trend downward, with a listing around 4.05 million rubles at a major dealership. By comparison, the same model carried a price around 4.19 million rubles the previous month, indicating a decline of roughly 3.6 percent in a short period. The dealership representative highlighted practical assurances tied to this cross-border purchase, noting a two-year factory warranty and a Russified media system menu designed to ease user experience for Russian customers. The Citroen’s powertrain consists of a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 175 horsepower and an automatic transmission paired with front-wheel drive. These details illustrate how parallel-import vehicles are being packaged with familiar regional features to appeal to local buyers, even as the underlying supply chain remains distinct from the official distribution network. (Autonews.ru)
Analysts observe that the trend of price adjustments for parallel-import Teramonts and Citroens is not isolated to these two models. The broader market context includes competition from domestically assembled options, such as the Solaris HS, which has historically served as a benchmark for price sensitivity in Russia. When foreign-market models compete at more aggressive price points, local consumers gain options that were previously less visible, influencing perception of value, warranty terms, and after-sales support. As such, buyers are encouraged to conduct thorough comparisons across dealer networks, verify warranty coverage, and consider total cost of ownership, including potential variations in import fees and potential changes in tariffs or duties. (Autonews.ru)