Russia October 2012: Lada Granta #1, Renault Duster up to #7!

November 10, 2012
Matt Gasnier

Renault Duster

* See the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 50 brands by clicking on the title! *

The Russian new car market is up 5% year-on-year in October to 253,732 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 2,441,663 units, up 13% on 2011. The Lada Granta confirms it now is the dominant model in the country, improving its best-ever scores to 14,197 sales and 5.6% share. It is now #3 year-to-date at 95,162 units and 3.9%, in the process reverting the YTD podium back to 100% Lada like in 2011 and at least the last 15 years. If it continues to see its sales grow over the next 2 months the Granta could even finish the year at #1: it is now 10,200 units below the Priora and 11,907 below the Kalina.

Lada Granta. Picture courtesy of www.autobild.de

In fact the entire Top 6 most popular models stay unchanged vs. September: the Priora is #2 at 4.3%, followed by the Kalina (4.2%), Hyundai Solaris (3.9%), Kia Rio (3.2%) and Ford Focus (2.7%). But the big event this month is the thunderous arrival of the Renault Duster within the Russian Top 10. After coming very close over the last few months (it ranked #11 in July and September), the Duster is up 4 spots on September to land at a formidable 7th place thanks to 6,680 sales and 2.6% share. The Top 5 is definitely achievable if it continues on this fantastic sales trajectory. Finally notice the Lada Largus (aka Dacia Logan MPV) at #22 and 2,769 sales.

Audi sales are up 57% in October in Russia.

And this month I also give you the Top 50 brands ranking! For the first time in potentially 5 years, Lada sales as a whole are up year-on-year at +2% and 50,022 units in October, thanks to the success of the Granta and the arrival of the Largus. Chevrolet and Renault are both up an excellent 24% year-on-year at #2 and #3 respectively, with Kia up 14% at #4, Volkswagen up 18% at #6 and Toyota up 29% at #8. Premium brands fare very well this year in Russia: Audi is up 57% in October, Lexus up 54%, BMW 42% and Mercedes 34%. Lifan is the best-selling Chinese manufacturer at #25 (+21%) followed by Geely at #26 (+167%), Chery at #27 (+65%) and Great Wall at #30 (+65% also).

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