Russia April 2017: Market confirms rebound at +6.9%

The Kia Rio is up a whopping 30% year-on-year in April.

* See the Top 52 All-brands and Top 25 models by clicking on the title *

After delivering the largest year-on-year gain in four and a half years last month, the Russian new car market confirms it is now on the mend with another year-on-year improvement in April at +6.9% to 129.476 units. The year-to-date tally is now up 2.6% to 451.945 units. Joerg Schreiber, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee, still call this a fragile recovery though. Market leader Lada follows the market at +7% to 20.3% share, only the second time in the past 12 month the Russian manufacturer manages to cross the 20% share milestone. Below, the next four carmakers all brilliantly and frankly outpace the market: Kia is up 32%, Hyundai up 12%, Renault up 19% and Volkswagen up 21%. In the Top 10, only Nissan also manages a double-digit gain, with Toyota down 12% and Skoda up 9%. BMW (+17%) and Mazda (+15%) also shine among major manufacturers.

The Lada XRAY ranks at a best-ever 8th place in April. 

In the models ranking, in the space of a few months the Kia Rio has established an implacable domination with sales surging once again at +30% to 8.942. The Rio has ranked first each and every month of 2017 so far, 7 times in the past 9 months and the 8 times in total after November 2014, August, September and October 2016. With the production of the Hyundai Solaris hatchback stopped to make room for the Creta, it is possible that the Rio benefits from a sales transfer from the Solaris. In any case, Lada sees its chances to reclaim the annual lead after losing to the Solaris in 2016 slim down: the Granta is down another 15% this month at #2 and the Vesta (+29%) is stuck in 4th place.

The new generation boosts VW Tiguan sales up 235% this month.

The Lada XRAY continues to progress: up 41% year-on-year and two spots on March to a record 8th place. Great gainers inside the Top 25 include the Lada 4×4 aka Niva (+33%), Nissan Qashqai (+34%), Kia Cee’d (+37%), Nissan X-Trail (+50%), Kia Sportage (+52%) and VW Tiguan (+235%). Finally, the Ford Focus returns inside the Top 25 for the first time in a year.

Previous month: Russia March 2017: Largest year-on-year gain in 4.5 years at +9%

One year ago: Russia April 2016: Vesta and XRAY push Lada to best share in 4.5 years

Full April 2017 Top 52 All-brands and Top 25 models below.