Kazakhstan March 2016: Lada implodes (-80%) in market down 58%

Even though Lada sales are down 80%, the Priora is back to #1 in Kazakhstan.

* See the Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models by clicking on the title *

After a two month-hiatus, Kazakhstan is back on BSCB and the market has changed drastically since our last update, sinking further into recession. March sales are down an abysmal 57% year-on-year to just 3.573 sales, pulling the First Quarter volume down 58% to 10.564 units. It would appear the crisis hitting Russia and Ukraine is spreading across the car market of the ex-USSR countries. As is often the case (notably in Ukraine), significantly reduced volumes trigger a complete reshuffle of the brands order. Lada implodes at -80% over the first three months of 2016 and owes its first place to a slightly better March volume (791). Toyota led the way both in January and February and ranks #2 so far in 2016 with 1.821 sales and 17.2% share (-15%) vs. 1.848 and 17.5% (-80%) for Lada. The Russian carmaker held 36.8% of the Kazakh market only a year ago.

The Renault Duster ranks #2 in Kazakhstan so far this year. 

Mimicking its performance in Ukraine, French carmaker Renault manages to improve by 17% so far this year, earning an excellent third spot with 1.546 sales and 14.6% share. Among passenger car brands, only Peugeot (+160%), MG (+150%), Mazda (+18%) and Suzuki (+23%) also manage to gain ground in a devastating market, with Datsun (#21), JAC (#27) and Lifan (#29) choosing the wrong time to enter the Kazakh market. Despite losing almost all its steam in the brands ranking, Lada manages to place the Priora in the models pole position so far in 2016 – a title it lost in 2015 to the Hyundai Accent – with 902 sales and 8.5% share (49% of Lada sales so far in Kazakhstan) and a whopping 15% share in March. It is followed this month by the Renault Sandero (5.9%) and Duster (5.8%) with the GAZ Gazelle and Hyundai Accent rounding up the Top 5. Leader at end-February, the Toyota Camry slumps to #5 due to a poor 10th place in March.

Previous post: Kazakhstan Full Year 2015: Hyundai Accent ends Lada Priora reign

One year ago: Kazakhstan March 2015: Lada Largus now #3 year-to-date

Full March 2016 Top 40 All-brands and Top 50 models below.