The “gray” import of new cars into Russia affected not only premium cars, but also budget cars in the mass segment, which are widely represented on sale. This is due to announcements on the official portals of dealers, as well as on classified websites analyzed by socialbites.ca.
suzuki ciaz
So, one of the Suzuki dealers brought to Russia a batch of Ciaz sedans intended for Southeast Asian countries. The assembly of such machines has been set up at the Maruti Suzuki factory in India.
suzuki ciaz
Suzuki
Another Suzuki dealer in Nizhny Novgorod offers customers Ciaz sedans in a single Alpha configuration with a 105-horsepower 1.5-liter engine and automatic transmission for 1.9 million rubles.
The car’s equipment includes parking sensors, cruise control, keyless entry and power mirrors.
Skoda Kamiq
The compact crossover Skoda Kamiq was never officially delivered to Russia, but car dealers in Tyumen, Surgut and the Moscow region are ready to offer such cars without mileage at prices ranging from 2.4 to 2.9 million rubles.
Skoda Kamiq
skoda
Judging by the advertisements given in the advertisements, the most affordable option is equipped with a 1.0 liter 110 hp gasoline engine. and front wheel drive. Automatic vehicles with a 1.6 engine and a hydromechanical six-speed are also offered.
Ford Mondeo
The Ford Mondeo sedan left the Russian market in 2019, and in 2022 the American concern discontinued the model in Europe and the USA.
Ford Mondeo
ford
But Mondeo has remained afloat in the Chinese market, and dealers from the Amur Region and Vladivostok offer to buy such cars for Russians. They specifically ask for 2.7 million rubles for a car with a 1.5-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 165 forces.
The hybrid version with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine will cost 3.1 million rubles.
Chevrolet Equinox
Low-mileage 2022 Chevrolet Equinox crossovers offer multi-brand car dealerships in several cities at once, including Perm, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Orenburg and Moscow. Depending on the configuration, the price of such cars ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 million rubles.
Chevrolet Equinox
chevrolet
In particular, a dealer in Ryazan is asking more than 2.8 million rubles for a car with a 236-hp 2.0-liter engine, a 9-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The car’s equipment includes a panoramic roof and a premium audio system.
Equinox was not officially sold on the Russian market. The third generation car has been produced since 2017 and has been assembled in China, Korea, Mexico and Canada.
Acura MDX
In mid-November of this year, one of the official Honda dealers started selling the new Acura MDX crossovers. According to his announcement,
A car with a 3.5 gasoline engine (290 hp) is estimated at 9 million rubles.
It is stated that the car is new and an electronic deed has already been issued for it.
Acura MDX
Acura
Similar cars that do not work, promise to bring order and a few private sellers. The Acura brand officially existed on the Russian market until 2016.
Mazda CX-4
A series of coupe-shaped crossovers with 2.0-liter gasoline engines with a capacity of 158 hp, automatic transmissions and front-wheel drive are offered for sale in Russia by one of the largest dealer holdings. Cars cost from 3 to 3.5 million rubles.
Mazda CX-4
mazda
The compact model is built on the same platform as the famous Russian mid-size crossover Mazda CX-5. The Quartet debuted at the Beijing Auto Show in 2016. China has become its main market.
Opel Corsa
One of the car dealers in Moscow offers to buy an electric version of the Opel Corsa hatchback.
Opel Corsa
Opel
For a car in the maximum configuration, the seller asks for 2 million 150 thousand rubles.
The power plant of the car develops 136 forces, and the power reserve of the electric Corsa is 300 km.
only lovers
Representatives of large dealership holdings note that the “gray” channels mainly import premium cars that provide the dealer with the highest margin.
“The share of cars imported through parallel imports in total sales is 25 percent. These cars are in great demand among premium segment customers.
As part of parallel imports, Lamborghini, Infiniti, Volkswagen Group, Land Rover cars, as well as BMW Motorrad motorcycles are imported, Vladimir Zhelobov, director of used cars of the Avtodom and Avtospetstsentr group of companies, told socialbites.ca.
He assured that there were no difficulties in the repair and maintenance of cars delivered in this way.
In turn, Alexei Starikov, deputy general manager for new car sales of the Avilon group, in an interview with socialbites.ca listed quite rare cars that the holding supplies the country.
Among them are exotic models, for example, Volkswagen Bora for Russia, Volkswagen ID.6 electric cars, Audi Q5 E-Tron, FAW Bestune NAT, new generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, FAW Bestune T99 and B70.
According to Starikov, parallel import processes of auto parts continue to develop in the market today, which allows dealers to solve the problem of supplying customers. Both Avilon and Avtospetstsentr promise to provide a warranty from the seller for self-imported cars.
back to the nineties
Sergey Burgazliev, an independent automotive industry consultant, returns in the current state of the car market to the characteristic situation of the 1990s, when dealers imported cars on their own.
“The market will be big, diverse, interesting, but the same as in the nineties. Whoever brought it sold it.
By the way, if such “colorful” cars are imported, this means that there is a real demand for them. And it turns out that the previous automakers did not sell in Russia first of all those that were in demand on the market, but the models that were most profitable for them,” he said.
According to him, the new configuration of the market, taking into account the cars imported into Russia from the “gray” road, will become clear in at least a few months. Meanwhile, Chinese cars, which can be purchased here and now from an authorized dealer, are in high demand in the country.
“Chinese brands are actively expanding in terms of developing their dealer networks and marketing programs. And the most important thing is that they are available with a registered TCP, you can come to give and buy them. “At least until spring, this trend won’t change,” he said.
Denis Migal, CEO of the Fresh Auto car dealership network, says that a buyer who is ready to buy an exotic car that is not sold in Russia should understand that he still does not have to rely on the automaker’s warranty.
“We lived in a more transparent world with manufacturers, distributors, dealers, warranties and processes. Now everything is more complicated.”
Migal said in an interview with socialbites.ca.
According to him, the condition and legal purity of the car also require verification: in the case of unverified sellers, there is a danger of false customs clearance.
“The ruble has now strengthened and it has become profitable to transport cars again. Customs duties remained the same as they were also high. Now the situation has changed for an indefinite period, and what will happen next is uncertain. If the ruble weakens even a little, this whole story will be in vain. “The state has not yet taken serious steps to enable parallel imports,” said Denis Migal of Fresh Auto.
Source: Gazeta
Anika Rood is an author at “Social Bites”. She is an automobile enthusiast who writes about the latest developments and news in the automobile industry. With a deep understanding of the latest technologies and a passion for writing, Anika provides insightful and engaging articles that keep her readers informed and up-to-date on the latest happenings in the world of automobiles.