During the first half of 2023, the Russian electric vehicle market showed strong momentum with 4,239 units sold, marking a dramatic 287 percent rise from the same period a year earlier. For January through June 2022, sales reached 1,096 EVs. These figures come from the market research firm NAPI, which analyzed its proprietary data.
Analysts note a clear shift in market composition over the year. Chinese produced electric cars now occupy more than half of the market, a sign of intensifying competition with non Chinese brands such as Volkswagen and Tesla. Local industry data indicate that domestically produced Russian EVs account for roughly 24 percent of sales, signaling that domestic manufacturing remains a meaningful share of the mix despite the global lean toward imports.
In the top tier of models for the first half of 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4, Evolute I-Pro, Tesla Model Y, Evolute I-Joy, and Zeekr 001 EV led the pack, underscoring a diverse lineup that appeals to a broad spectrum of buyers across price points and performance profiles.
Earlier in the year, regional energy and automotive reports highlighted a parallel trend: in Europe, electric vehicle adoption accelerated strongly during June 2023, with EVs edging out diesel vehicles for the first time and capturing a growing share of the market that reflected shifting consumer preferences and policy incentives across the continent. As the EV segment expands in Russia and beyond, observers emphasize the need to monitor supply chains, charging infrastructure development, and consumer incentives that influence purchase decisions across the region, including Canada and the United States where similar dynamics are unfolding.