Russia’s New Car Market in Recent Years
In 2022, the sales of new vehicles in Russia totaled 626,281 units, marking a dramatic year‑over‑year drop of 58.7 percent from the previous year. The shift underscored widespread changes in consumer behavior and economic conditions affecting vehicle purchases across the country.
Lada continued to lead the brand rankings, expanding its market share to nearly 28 percent. In 2021, Lada held about 22.25 percent of the market, but the subsequent year saw a notable decline in overall demand. Specifically, 174,688 new Lada cars were sold in the year, reflecting a 48.2 percent decrease from the prior year.
The top five brands in the Russian market still included Kia, Hyundai, Renault, and Chery, illustrating a mix of established and rising players. Among all brands represented in Russia by the end of the year, only Geely and Exeed from the Chinese segment showed growth in sales, signaling divergent trends within a volatile market landscape.
For context, the current volume of new-car sales can be contrasted with figures from a decade earlier. In 2012, Russia reported 2.935 million units in new-car and light commercial vehicle sales, highlighting how dramatically the market has shifted over the years.
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Readers are invited to participate in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix vote to help determine the standout car introductions of the year. Participation is straightforward and offers a sense of the evolving preferences among Russian buyers as new models enter the market.
As a token of appreciation for time spent on the survey, three prizes are offered to respondents. The opportunity to enter is available to all who complete the questionnaire, with a cutoff date noted for early participants.
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Source: Autostat (autostat.ru) — the reference remains a primary source for data on vehicle sales trends and market share within Russia. The information helps observers understand shifts in consumer demand, competitive dynamics among brands, and the impact of external factors on new-car purchasing patterns.