Russia June 2016: Solaris back on top, Lada Vesta resumes growth

The Lada Vesta posts its first month at 5.000+ sales. 

* Now updated with the Top 52 All-brands and Top 275 All-models *

The freefall continues for the Russian new light vehicle market, down another 12.5% in June to 122.633 registrations, pulling the H1 2016 tally down 14% to 672.140 units. I did predict the Russian market would continue to fall fast in 2016, but for Joerg Schreiber, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee, it comes as a surprise: “Total market volume continued to erode at double-digit pace, faster than anticipated at the beginning of the year. With this in mind, the AEB is updating its 2016 full-year market forecast to 1.44 million units (-10.3%), [implying] a slowdown of the negative trend in H2, to 6-7%.” Still rather optimistic in my view.

Lifan sales are up 57% in Russia in June.

For once local carmaker and market leader Lada falls faster than the market at -16%, resulting in a lower market share at 18.1% vs. 18.5% year-to-date. Kia (-8%) and Hyundai (-2%) on the other hand continue to gain market share at 10.4% and 9.8% respectively this month. The same goes for Renault, managing a 1% increase to 10.075 units and 8.2% share, but Toyota (-17%) and Nissan (-33%) drop painfully. BMW (+7%), Skoda (+9%), Audi (+15%), UAZ (+21%) and most impressively Ford (+22%) also deliver gains inside the Top 15. Further down, Lifan impresses with a 57% improvement, while Mini (+1%), Subaru (+6%), Brilliance (+75%) and Jaguar (+255%) are among other brands gaining ground year-on-year. We welcome Chinese carmaker Zotye in the Russian sales charts in June even though the brand launched back in March: it ranks #48 for now with a discreet 21 sales.

After two consecutive months of Lada Granta domination, the Hyundai Solaris returns to #1 model in Russia in June, a spot it has now held for 9 of the past 14 months. It is followed very closely this month its platform twin the Kia Rio at 8.629 sales (-4%) vs. 8.676 (-6%) whereas the Granta implodes (-49%) at 7.219. Part of the explanation for the Granta drop is the gearing up of the Vesta: after marking a pause in May, the new Lada resumes its ascent, setting new volume (5.128) and market share record (4.2%) for the nameplate in 4th position. Its SUV counterpart, the XRAY, is however stuck at the bottom of the Top 20: it ranks #18 in June after hitting #13 in April and #16 in May.

The Renault Kaptur lands at #45.

A healthy amount of models manage significant gains in a declining market: the Renault Duster is up 13% at #5, the Chevrolet Niva up 36% at #9, the Renault Sandero up 15% to #11, Skoda Rapid up 14% to #12 and Skoda Octavia up 4% to #13. Further down, it’s once again the SUV segment that manages to stay afloat: the UAZ Patriot (+21%), Kia Sportage (+13%) and Nissan Qashqai (+44%) all post strong gains with the Hyundai Tucson improving its best ranking to #21 and the Nissan Terrano lodging a 2nd straight month inside the Top 25 thanks to deliveries up 6%. Further down, let’s salute the great performance of the Mercedes GLS up a further 6 spots on May to #41, the thunderous arrival of the Renault Kaptur (in fact a Duster with a Captur snout) directly at #45 with 554 sales, and of the Jaguar F-Pace instantly accounting for 70% of the brand’s sales in Russia.

Previous post: Russia May 2016: Discover the Top 280 All-models (BSCB Exclusive)

Previous month: Russia May 2016: Skoda and Ford escape overall gloom

One year ago: Russia June 2015: Lada Granta reclaims #1 spot at record 10% share

Full June 2016 Top 52 All-brands and Top 275 All-models below.