Purchasing a new foreign car in Russia, if it was brought in before the sanctions, remains a notable achievement for buyers. While it is still possible to locate vehicles from Japan, Germany, or France, the price tags reflect the higher costs driven by increased demand and limited supply.
Dealerships continue to stock Renault models, a brand that once led many local sales charts and remains a familiar option for many buyers who remember its earlier popularity.
Hyundai and Kia have shifted their position from the top tier to a different part of the market. Prospective buyers now often look beyond the familiar Rio and Solaris to the more premium options like the Hyundai Tucson and the Hyundai Santa Fe, which commands higher prices but offers additional space and features.
Meanwhile, no market remains vacant for long. Chinese manufacturers are steadily expanding their presence, and their share of total car sales reached over 30 percent in September, signaling a strong shift in consumer choice and brand diversification.
Big automobile groups rely on parallel imports as a means to diversify offerings and respond to demand. They have begun bringing in some Range Rover models along with vehicles from Volkswagen and Audi. Experts, however, caution that this influx is unlikely to radically alter market dynamics in the near term, as analysts emphasize persistent price pressures and the enduring influence of consumer expectations and financing options.