Russia October 2016: Kia Rio dominates again in market down just 3%

The Kia Rio now ranks #2 year-to-date above the Lada Granta.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 55 All-brands and Top 260 All-models – see title *

It would appear scrappage schemes are finally triggering a bottoming out of the Russian new car market, at least this month with a thin 3% year-on-year decline to 126.658 registrations. The year-to-date tally remains in double-digit negative territory at -13% to 1.147.670 units. Once again the brands ranking shows a clear consolidation of sales around the best-selling brands, with 9 in the Top 10 posting year-on-year gains even though the market as a whole is in negative. Homegrown Lada posts a stunning performance with sales up 13% to 23.307, distancing Kia (+4%), Hyundai (+0.3%), Renault (+2%), Toyota surging up 16%, Volkswagen (+1%), GAZ (+15%), UAZ (+1%) and Skoda (+0.1%). Only Nissan (-17%) struggles. Outside the Top 10, the clear winner is Lexus shooting up 85% to #14 and 2.221 sales vs. #20 in FY2015. Notice also Jaguar up 156%, Mini up 28%, Isuzu up 79% and Smart up 67%. Reversely, Chery (-29%), Chevrolet (-30%), Audi (-31%), Volvo (-32%), Suzuki (-51%), Mitsubishi (-59%) and Fiat (-64%) and Geely (-84%) implode.

The Renault Kaptur and Hyundai Creta are instant blockbusters in Russia.

Model-wise, the Kia Rio manages a third consecutive month in pole position, beating the market at -1% to 8.047 sales and overtaking the Lada Granta (-27% this month) for the 2nd place YTD. The Hyundai Solaris remains the best-seller YTD with 74.079 sales (-22%), despite dropping 21% in October due to the discontinuation of the hatchback variant to give way to the Creta on the St Petersburg factory. Talking of which, the Hyundai Creta is the best-selling SUV in the country for the third month running – in fact it has not yet ranked below that since it launched – thanks to 4.576 sales and 3.6%, this time outsold by the Lada Vesta (5.074) for 4th place. The Toyota RAV4 surges 146% to #11, the Renault Kaptur is stable at an outstanding 13th place, the Lada XRAY is up 3 spots on September to #19 and the VW Tiguan is up 54% to reappear inside the Top 25 for the first time since September 2015 at #23.

The Lexus LX is up 17-fold year-on-year in October in Russia. 

Adding LCVs to the original ranking brings the GAZ Gazelle at #4 overall with sales soaring 18% year-on-year and the antediluvian UAZ Bukhanka lands at #15 (+7%). Further down the ranking, notice the Kia Soul up 78% to #35, the Lexus RX up 643% to #44, Lexus LX up 1609% to #50 and the Lifan Solano up 88% to #64 and third best-selling Chinese nameplate in Russia below the Lifan X60 (#41) and X50 (#48). We welcome the Ravon Nexia R3 – the rebadge of the now-defunct Daewoo Nexia – at #125, the Infiniti QX30 at #195, the Genesis EQ900 at #201 and the Cadillac XT5 at #242.

Previous month: Russia September 2016: Hyundai Creta (#4) and Renault Kaptur (#13) stun

One year ago: Russia October 2015: Hyundai Solaris holds onto lead, market down 39%

Full October 2016 Top 55 All-brands and Top 260 All-models below.