Official Volkswagen dealerships in Moscow report that the new Polo liftbacks assembled in Kaluga have sold out, a trend confirmed by multiple Moscow retailers and supported by data from the official distributor, Volkswagen Group Rus. The rapid sell-out underscores strong consumer demand for Volkswagen compact models in the Russian market and highlights shifts in dealer inventory management as production capacity adjusts to demand patterns.
According to a Moscow Volkswagen manager speaking with a Socialbites correspondent, the Polo lineup has effectively reached a plateau in supply, prompting consideration of equally priced alternatives such as the Kaiyi E5 in the same segment. This remark points to an evolving consumer landscape where buyers compare value, equipment, and total cost of ownership across competing brands within a similar price tier.
Another Moscow dealership has proposed a Chinese-imported Lavida to fill the gap left by the Kaluga-made Polo, noting willingness to negotiate cash prices below 2 million rubles for a sedan in that configuration. This option signals a broader strategy among Russian dealers to diversify the local portfolio while offering aggressive pricing terms to maintain competitiveness in a tight market environment.
Volkswagen Group Rus confirms that the last Kaluga-made Polo sold for around 1.8 million rubles, a price point tied to a basic Respect configuration featuring a 1.6-liter engine with approximately 110 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. This snapshot illustrates how pricing reflects model specification and regional demand pressures, even as new inventory comes from alternative sources or different assembly origins.
Across other Russian cities, Polo availability remains more favorable. About 37 units are listed by 15 dealers at prices ranging from 1.8 to 2.4 million rubles, with Kaluga-produced batches from 2022 still circulating in markets such as Vladimir, Kazan, Magnitogorsk, Orenburg, and Sterlitamak. The ongoing presence of these vehicles demonstrates regional variation in supply chains and the importance of dealership networks in sustaining model availability despite localized shifts in production.
The broader market narrative also includes dialogue around model expansions and replacements, with industry observers noting that Russian showrooms continue to adjust assortments as consumer demand evolves and import strategies adapt to regulatory and economic conditions. This dynamic environment keeps dealers focused on value, accessibility, and customer experience while balancing import and localization considerations for compact sedans and liftbacks.
At a national level, the Polo’s footprint remains a reference point for Volkswagen’s small-car strategy in Russia, even as demand indicators point to a stabilization period where alternative models and price-sensitive buyers shape showroom decisions. The interplay between Kaluga-produced units, imported alternatives, and regional stock levels reflects a market in transition, where customers weigh styling, engine performance, and total ownership costs alongside local warranty support and service networks. [citation attribution: Volkswagen Group Rus]”,