According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB) statistics, the sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in 2018 grew 12.8% year-on-year amounting to 1.8 mn units.
In December, the sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles increased by 5.6% month-on-month and amounted to 175.2 thousand units.
“Total market sales in December improved by 5.6% on an annual basis, closing the year with a 12-month streak of consecutive growth. Thus, cumulative sales in 2018 reached 1.801 million units, posting a 12.8% plus compared to the prior year. The outlook for 2019 is not so straightforward. Consumer tax increases and a possible tightening of US sanctions create significant risks and uncertainties for the market performance especially in the first quarter of the year. Assuming no drastic change in government policy and support for the automotive sector, market participants however expect that fundamental market demand should be robust enough for sales to consolidate and to return to a growth pattern in the course of the year. With this in mind, our 2019 full year prediction for sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia is a moderate improvement to 1.87 million units, or by 3.6% compared to the prior year”, commented Joerg Schreiber, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee.
Lada remained the leader of the Russian car market in December with its sales growing 8.7% year-on-year up to 35.4 thousand units.
KIA continues to rate the second with its sales increasing by 36.9% up to 18.1 thousand cars.
Hyundai remains the third expanding its sales by just 0.7% up to 15.1 thousand cars.
Toyota forced Renault out of the Top-5 in December with its sales growing by 12.7% year-on-year down to 12.3 thousand units.
Volkswagen rated the fifth, its sales increased by 7.8% up to 11.2 thousand units.
Among the car brands that demonstrated the most spectacular growth in November were Zotye (up 4.3-fold), HTM (up 3.8-fold), FAW (up 2.9-fold), Haval (up 2.3-fold), Geely (up 2.3-fold) and Jeep (up 2.2-fold).
The brands that saw their sales decline the most were smart (-84%), Changan (-74%), FIAT commercial vehicles (-69%) and Brilliance (-59%).
Among the car brands that demonstrated the most spectacular growth in December were HTM (up 11.5-fold), Chrysler (up 5-fold), Geely (up 3.3-fold), SsangYong (up 3-fold), Haval (up 2.8-fold) FAW (up 2.5-fold) and Jeep (up 2.5-fold).
The brands that saw their sales decline the most were Changan (-90%), Smart (-68%), Foton (-49%), Renault (-44%), and FIAT (-43%).