The cap on prices for vehicles produced under the nascent Solaris brand in Russia is expected to be 2.5 million rubles, according to automotive experts surveyed by analytics agency Autostat.
Analysts estimate that the typical price range for Solaris models will fall between 1.6 and 1.8 million rubles. This positioning would place Solaris in direct price competition with Chinese brands Kaiyi and BAIC, while still exceeding the cost of the basic version of the Lada Vesta with a five-speed manual transmission. Despite Solaris entering the market at a higher price point, there is an expectation that demand for traditional, older Korean-brand models will remain strong, according to Evgeniy Zhitnukhin, head of the dealership department at the Fresh car market.
Different industry voices have offered varying forecasts. AutoSpetsCenter Group of Companies and Avtodom Group of Companies, through their communications channels, present slightly higher expectations. A representative notes a starting price around 1.65 million rubles, while Avtodor Radio’s Editor-in-Chief suggests Solaris could hover near two million rubles.
Another perspective comes from Alexander Kovalev, who represents the Expocar Group of Companies. He predicts the model line could be priced between 2 and 2.5 million rubles. Kovalev adds that Solaris’s market success will not mirror the current scale seen for Hyundai and Kia. Instead, the brand’s fate may hinge on the availability of complete car kits remaining within Russia, a factor he estimates at approximately 70 thousand units in the country.
Earlier statements indicated that Hyundai Motor had not commented on potential component supply to the new owner of the former plant in St. Petersburg, a sign of ongoing uncertainty amid restructuring in the Russian automotive sector.
There had also been recent discussions about potential regulatory developments that could affect the trucking segment, including considerations about restrictions on truck operations that might influence road use in Russia, though these matters remain subject to ongoing policy review and implementation.