Cars in Russia See Price Drops from Dealers
Reports from socialbites.ca indicate that some Russian car dealers started selling at prices below the official recommended retail price. In Nizhny Novgorod, the Changan dealer is offering the Alsvin sedan at a discount of 120,000 rubles, even for cash payments, and promises to include winter tires and a set of extra equipment if the deal closes by week’s end. As a bonus, a gift is promised.
When financing is used and the car is handed over for exchange, the price begins at about 1.45 million rubles. For cash payments, the price sits around 1.63 million rubles. Buyers can decline free add-ons like a mop or anti-corrosion treatment, but the price remains unaffected, according to the dealer.
Meanwhile, the Kaiyi dealership in Ufa is prepared to discount the basic E5 sedan below the factory price list. The seller also notes some cars with manual transmissions, a model variant that has been removed from the brand’s official Russian site.
Pricing information from the price list shows 1.99 million rubles for a manual transmission and about 2.2 million rubles for a CVT, yet the dealer indicates that a discount will still be offered upon completion of the sale.
One offer included a basic Kaiyi E5 with CVT, accompanied by winter tires, crankcase protection, and floor mats, priced at 1.91 million rubles.
In Moscow, the Livan showroom is selling the X3 Pro crossover at the official price, but staff are open to negotiating extra discounts and gifts during the sale. The cash price for a model with a 1.5 engine and CVT is about 1.9 million rubles, with a five-year warranty. The staff note that further discounts and gifts may be discussed in person at the showroom.
Some dealers are offering promotional packages that include crankcase protection, floor mats, fenders, and winter tires at a modest extra charge when stock is tight. The Livan team says these items could be included in a final offer if requested.
BAIC dealers in Moscow are promoting a U5 Plus sedan with a manual transmission for 1.7 million rubles, while the CVT version is roughly 50,000 rubles higher but still below the official price of about 2.05 million rubles. New deliveries are expected in early spring, and current stock is being offered at strong discounts. A cash deal for the manual version is quoted around 1.7 million rubles.
Optional add-ons such as anti-corrosion treatment, crankcase protection, mats, and a radiator grille mesh are being offered for about 15–20 thousand rubles. Some showrooms have five manual transmission cars and a wider selection of CVT models.
The Omoda dealer in Kursk is advertising the S5 sedan with a 1.5‑liter engine delivering 113 hp and a CVT at the official price, plus a discount of 260 thousand rubles. In cash terms, the 2023 model is priced near 1.99 million rubles.
AvtoVAZ and UAZ Trends
Discounts have not affected homegrown brands in the same way. The lowest price for a Lada Granta remains limited to regions where the Classic ’23 configuration is offered, featuring a driver’s airbag but no air conditioning, paired with a 90-horsepower engine and manual transmission. The price tag sits at 848.9 thousand rubles, while the factory list still shows a Standard version without power steering at about 700 thousand rubles; however, dealers report that such configurations are not in stock.
At the Lada dealership in Yekaterinburg, a salesman notes that the standard package has not been produced or delivered for several months and that there are no plans to produce more of these models. The official Lada dealership in Samara confirms Granta as the most affordable option at 848 thousand rubles and reiterates that the plant does not produce cheaper variants. Both centers state that Granta can be purchased without dealer-added equipment.
Meanwhile, UAZ Patriot SUVs are listed at prices higher than the factory price list would indicate. A Moscow dealership cites 1.73 million rubles for the 2024 Patriot with a Euro-2 engine, while a Volgograd dealer offers a similar Base ICAR version with air conditioning for around 1.8 million rubles, noting the absence of dealer options.
Where do these discounts come from? Oleg Moseev, founder of the Automarketer project, explains that persistent overstock in the market and high credit costs push dealers to cut prices and bundle gifts. This approach helps clear inventory and reduce holding costs. He suggests that Chinese automakers face higher sales plans than the market can absorb at current prices, prompting discounts as a strategic move to move stock. With limited external support, dealers rely on discounts and gifts to sell aging inventory. Moseev predicts a long buyers’ market ahead, with outcomes tied to economic trends, consumer demand, and how quickly lending rates fall.
(Source: socialbites.ca)