The Russian passenger car market in March: who, apart from Lada and the «Chinese», entered the TOP-25?

Car sales in Russia are still in the red, but due to the low base effect, it is no longer so impressive. There is still a variety in the list of brands, but the TOP-25 most popular models are dominated by the “Chinese”.

The Avtostat agency has published fresh statistics on sales of new cars, which, we recall, is based on state registration data (that is, it includes “parallel” cars). According to experts, in March 2023, 69,913 cars were sold in Russia, which is only 11.4% less compared to the same period last year. The modest “minus” is explained by the low base effect: due to the suspension of supplies and problems with components, the Russian market collapsed throughout 2022. At the same time, the first spring month of this year is still the best for the Russian market. So, in January, 45,231 units were sold, in February — 56,148 cars.

The most popular brand remains the domestic Lada (24,252 units), and in March the share of Lada was approximately 35% against 21.66% a year earlier. The second place and leadership among foreign cars was retained by the Chinese Chery (8037 units). The top five of the March list of the most popular brands included three more companies from China: Haval (6850 units), Geely (5257 units) and Exeed (3368 units). Also of interest in the rating of brands: this year, Moskvich entered it for the first time (375 units), and Chevrolet, which officially left the Russian market, apparently, thanks to parallel imports, turned out to be in the “plus” (413 units, + 35%).

TOP 25 brands by sales of new passenger cars in March 2023 (pcs.)

Among the models, the bestseller is still Lada Granta (17,009 units), its market share is 24.33%. The most popular car of a foreign brand is the Chinese SUV Haval Jolion (3325 units). By the way, if earlier the appearance of a “Chinese” in the TOP-25 models was an event, then in the current realities, an event is an entry into the list of a non-Chinese car (excluding Lada, of course). There are few of them in the latest rating: Hyundai Tucson (1077 units), Kia Sportage (838 units), UAZ Patriot (710 units), Hyundai Santa Fe (652 units) and Kia Sorento (453 units).

TOP 25 models on the new passenger car market in March 2023 (pcs)

 

According to the results of the first quarter of 2023, 171,292 new passenger cars were sold in Russia, which is 35.1% less than in January-March 2022. Here, again, Lada and the «Chinese» are in the «plus».