‘Because we will compare results of the nearest months with the worst ever months in the automobile industry’ – AEB
According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB) statistics, the sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia during January-March 2021 declined by 2.8% year-on-year making 387.3 thousand units.
This figure includes 21,263 LCVs accounting for 5.5% of the total, 183,266 SUVs (47.3%), 1,784 pick-ups (0.5%), and 204 BEV (Battery Electric vehicles), SUVs apparently being the favourite car type in Russia.
In March, the sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles decreased by 5.7% year-on-year and grew by 23.8% month-on-month to make 148.7 thousand units.
“In March 2021, 148,676 cars were sold, which is 5.7% less than in March 2020. However, it is worth mentioning that March 2020 was the best month last year before the lockdown in April. In Q1 this year, 387,322 cars were sold that is 2.8% less than last year. It is obvious that the next couple of months will remedy the situation and the market will demonstrate growth, because we will compare results of the nearest months with the worst ever months in the automobile industry linked with business limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic. In general, the market situation is of no surprise. Purchase interest slightly decreases while prices increase, in some cases there is still a deficit in offer of certain models. Uncertainty with the disposal fee increase does not help the market either. The mass segment is slowing down most of all,” Thomas Staertzel, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee, commented.
Lada remained the leader of the Russian car market in March with its sales up 2.9% year-on-year to 33.8 thousand units.
KIA continues to rate the second with its sales amounting to 20.1 thousand cars, up 1.3% year-on-year.
Hyundai remains the third with its sales declining by 3% year-on-year to 15.3 thousand cars.
Renault ranked the fourth, its sales decreased by 14.5% down to 11.7 thousand units.
Toyota ranks the fifth with its sales down 18.3% to 10.3 thousand units.
Among the car brands that demonstrated the most spectacular growth in March were Opel (up 11.3-fold) and Chery (up 2.9-fold).
The brands that saw their sales decline the most were Hyundai (-3%), Jaguar (-83%), Zotye (-70%), Chevrolet (-57%), Lifan (-50%), and Mitsubishi (-50%).