In September this year, sales of new pickup trucks in Russia surged to more than twice the prior year, as Autostat Information reports. The market movement showed UAZ trailing behind several Chinese brands in overall volume, underscoring a shift in consumer preference within the segment.
A total of 1,736 pickup trucks were sold across the Russian Federation in September. Foreign-brand vehicles constituted 83.4 percent of the segment, with Chinese brands alone accounting for 59.5 percent. Domestic brands, represented solely by UAZ, declined from 24.6 percent to 16.6 percent during the same period.
During the opening autumn month, JAC led the brand rankings with 433 units sold, reflecting a 5.2-fold year-over-year rise. Close behind, Great Wall reported 344 units, a two-fold increase, while UAZ reached 288 units, marking a 64.6 percent gain. Changan followed with 180 units, and RAM recorded 145 units, up 3.7 times. The most popular models in September included the JAC T6, UAZ Pickup, Changan Hunter Plus, Great Wall Poer, and Great Wall Poer Kingkong, illustrating a diverse lineup drawing buyers across price points and capabilities.
In the first three quarters, the new pickup segment expanded to about 12.2 thousand units, representing a 2.3x increase. Foreign cars captured 81.4 percent of the market share, up from 72.8 percent in the prior period, while the share held by UAZ rose to 18.6 percent from 27.6 percent before, signaling ongoing shifts in brand strength and consumer loyalty within the domestic market. Market observers note that the composition reflects a growing preference for international models alongside competitive offerings from domestic manufacturers.
Earlier in the year, the Russian market saw the introduction of the Foton Tunland G7 Turntable, a model that has contributed to evolving consumer options and price competition in the pickup segment. Analysts suggest that continued interest from both domestic and international brands will influence quarterly results as buyers weigh capability, pricing, and after-sales support in the decision process.