The cargo segment of Russia’s car market could shift toward China almost entirely, according to Sergei Tselikov, director of the analytics agency Avtostat. Speaking at the Reedus round table titled Chinese trucks are taking over the Russian market. Good or bad, he argued that banning Chinese trucks would be impractical because Russian producers are unlikely to meet all demand. The practical path, he suggested, is boosting the competitiveness of domestic vehicles.
What would Tselikov do if he were in government? He outlined a three-step plan. First, conduct a full inventory of the automotive sector: what remains, what production and assembly capacities exist, and how far they can be stretched. Second, establish a single competence center to coordinate efforts. Third, develop a phased concept within that center, detailing what should be done, when, who will do it, and the long-term goals for the Russian auto industry.
He also called for building a robust auto parts industry in Russia, noting that the program should be designed to span the coming decades and ensure resilience against market shifts.
Vladimir Matyagin, president of the National Road Freight Transport Association Gruzavtotrans, offered a different perspective. He believes demand for Chinese trucks in Russia will ease in the coming years, even as Chinese brands gain a stronger foothold in the market now.
Autostat Information reported that September 2023 saw roughly 13.6 thousand trucks sold in Russia, with Chinese brands accounting for about 8.6 thousand units or 63.3 percent. The top-selling model for September was the Sitrak C7H, with nearly 1.7 thousand registrations. FAW J6 followed with around 1,000 units, and Foton Auman logged 712 sales. Trailing models included Shacman SX331 and FAW J7, illustrating the current mix of preferences among Russian buyers. These figures reflect a broader shift toward Chinese fleets in the Russian commercial-vehicle market, underscoring the need for strategic planning around localization and supply chains.
Previously, observers noted that Chinese car brands nearly doubled their dealer networks in Russia within a single year, signaling growing accessibility and brand presence across the country.