The Russian car market is showing a notable shift in its financial dynamics, with turnover rising from 83.3 to 87.7 billion rubles between June and July 2022, according to Avtostat Info reported via Telegram. Yet, those post-crisis indicators remain well short of pre-crisis levels, and the market’s structure has undergone a dramatic transformation. A comparison reveals that a year and a half earlier, the Toyota RAV4 led profitability with a monthly turnover approaching 189 billion rubles, a figure that now serves as a distant reference point.
When the profitability rankings from February 2021 are used as a baseline, the list featured models such as Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Creta, Kia Rio, Lada Vesta, Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Solaris, Mercedes GLE, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, and Mercedes GLS. By July 2022, the landscape shifted significantly, and Lada Granta ascended to the top of the profitability chart, a model that had not previously broken into the upper echelon despite its broad popularity. This ascent reflects how the market adapted to new conditions, while a mix of domestic and foreign models known to Russian buyers experienced a very different trajectory.
The accompanying infographic captures this new reality, showing that non-European and Japanese manufacturers are now more integral to the profitability picture in Russia. Chinese brands like Chery, Geely, and Haval gained prominence as traditional leaders retreated or lost ground. The top tier continues to include the Korean duo Hyundai and Kia, namely Creta, Solaris, Rio, and Sportage, but Mitsubishi Pajero Sport remains a stubborn outlier in the profitability rankings. The reshuffle also highlights how models such as Hyundai Creta and Lada Vesta, which occupied the second and fourth positions in profitability in 2021, dropped to the fifth or sixth spots by July 2022. Above them, a completely different lineup has emerged, dominated by newer entries and shifting consumer preferences. At the same time, the Lada Granta stands out as a rarity not only in profitability but also in overall sales volume, maintaining a unique position in the market.
- Recently, the Granta received a bold styling update as part of a broader anti-crisis design refresh that aimed to attract cautious buyers.
- The latest selling and review content can now be accessed through RuTube, expanding the model’s reach beyond traditional channels.