Russia March 2013: Market down for the first time in 3 years

Kia Rio

* See the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 55 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Shock, horror: for the first time in 3 years and the establishment of scrappage schemes in April 2010, the Russian new car market is actually down year-on-year this month at -4% to 244,030 registrations! The year-to-date total is stable at 616,770 units. No surprise in pole position: the Lada Granta leads by far for the 7th month in a row with 14,373 sales and 5.9%. It is followed by the Hyundai Solaris at #2 for the 6th time ever after February 2012, March 2012, May 2012, January 2013 and February 2013 even though its sales are down 9% year-on-year to 9,610 and 3.9%.

The Kia Rio breaks its ranking, volume and market share records this month, landing on the Russian podium for the first time ever at #3 with 8,269 sales and 3.4%, and is now also #3 year-to-date. The Ford Focus is back up 4 spots to #4 but still down 7% year-on-year and the Renault Duster lodges a Top 5 finish for the 2nd time in the last 3 months at #5 with 7,007 units, its new volume record. For the first time in history, there is only one Lada in the monthly Russian Top 5: the Kalina is down 3 spots to #6 and the Priora down 2 to #5…

Further down, notice the Skoda Octavia up 5 ranks on February to #11, its highest ranking in the country so far, the Lada Samara back up 12 spots to #12 but still down 24% year-on-year, the Lada Largus down one spot to #15, the Hyundai ix35 up 40% on March 2012 to #19 with 3,019 sales and 1.2% and the Nissan X-Trail up 5 ranks to #20.

Previous month: Russia February 2013: Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio impress

One year ago: Russia March 2012: Lada Granta #4, Hyundai Solaris stays #2

Full March 2013 Top 25 models and Top 55 brands Ranking Tables below.