Market participants told socialbites.ca that after the shutdown of special channels for importing cars into Russia with favorable customs clearance within the EAEU, companies in this sector shifted toward handling individual orders rather than bulk shipments.
“Our core activity is supplying automobiles from South Korea. There remains an opportunity to deliver a 3-5 year old vehicle to an individual with a preferential recycling fee and standard customs clearance,” explained the founder of RogovMobil, a firm focused on importing vehicles from abroad.
He also noted that the option to import cars from China with cheap clearance in Kyrgyzstan has been completely closed, and attempts to register such cars in a private name for resale have ended.
Global Car Transport, another company in the import market, informed socialbites.ca that it is ready to take orders for a car that can be delivered and processed only from Europe up to two weeks before the month’s end.
“Right now, the industry expects the April 1st changeover to a new customs clearance procedure for cars from abroad.
In March, traffic slowed significantly.
Only the most committed buyers—those confident they can register the vehicle in Russia by April 1—continue to act, shared a company representative who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A buyer from abroad should also be prepared for delays in vehicle registration. Sometimes data on the paid recycling fee appears in the traffic police database late, which can prevent registration even when the required documents are present.
When a car is delivered by order, a notable psychological hurdle appears: instead of paying and driving immediately, the buyer must pay upfront and then wait several weeks for delivery, according to RogovMobil’s Dmitry Rogov.
“Even if the supplier has a long public presence and a well-known YouTube channel, the buyer may feel uneasy about paying the full price upfront and waiting for the vehicle to arrive. It is a month where progress feels uncertain,” Rogov noted.
Yet the industry foresees few alternatives. A widely viewed supplier known to the public is likely to persist, with ongoing demand even as market conditions tighten.
Once registered, a Hyundai Palisade is expected to cost about 3.5 to 4 million rubles.
It was also noted that a 2020 model with 50,000 kilometers could edge toward 5 million rubles when imported for resale, given the higher recycling fee.
What is offered and at what cost?
Based on advertisements, alternative import operators in Russia primarily feature popular European and Japanese models that held appeal up to 2022.
A nearly new Toyota Camry, particularly with a 2.5 engine, may be priced around 4.8 million rubles in Russia. The all‑wheel drive 2023 Skoda Kodiaq with a 220‑hp engine is listed near 5 million rubles, while a fresh Kia Sportage with a 2.5 engine is shown at about 5.2 million rubles.
A used 2020 BMW 3 Series can be sourced from South Korea for roughly 3.1 million rubles.
A four‑year‑old Audi A3 with a 190‑hp engine is available for about 2.4 million rubles when ordered, while a low‑mileage Kia Sorento of the same age exceeds 3.8 million rubles.
Independent automotive industry analyst Sergei Burgazliev notes that government measures continually tighten the alternative supply path to Russia, though the channel is unlikely to vanish completely.
“The channel won’t be fully closed because electric vehicles and a premium segment still exist beyond official imports. However, new restrictions, including the obligation to pay an extra recycling fee at the Russian level when passing a car through Kyrgyzstan, will affect the market primarily by lifting prices,” Burgazliev explains.
Demand for these vehicles is not expected to disappear entirely, but could fall by roughly 25 to 35 percent depending on the segment.
Observers suggest that the policy is aimed at safeguarding local automakers while preserving access to imported vehicles for consumers. Cars are likely to become more expensive, nudging buyers toward either higher payments or models already present within the country.