Russia 6 months 2013: Market transformation continues

The Lada Granta has replaced the Zhiguli in the hearts of Russian consumers.

* See the Top 25 best-selling models and Top 56 All-brands by clicking on the title! *

Those who hoped the Russian new car market would cross the 3 million annual-unit mark in 2013 to become the #1 European market will have to wait: after almost 3 years of uninterrupted growth, new car sales in Russia have come to a halt this year and are down 6% on 2o12 halfway through the year to 1,333,314 units. The models ranking continues to undergo a radical and fascinating transformation: whereas two years ago the Top 4 best-sellers were all Ladas (Kalina, Zhiguli, Priora and Samara), there is now only one in the Top 4 and 3 in the Top 10. The Lada Granta is the new Russian favourite with 84,261 sales and 6.3% share, up 87% on 2012 which is when it launched. The Hyundai Solaris is up one spot to #2 thanks to sales down just 2% to 57,009 units for an improved 4.3% share.

Renault Duster

The Kia Rio is up 3 spots on last year to round up the podium, gaining 5% to 44.236 sales and 3.1%. The big star of the period in Russia is the Renault Duster: launched in early 2012, it is up to a fantastic 4th place over the period at 40,710 units and 3.1%, way above the traditional category leader the antediluvian Lada 4×4, down 17% to #15. #1 last year, the Lada Kalina is down a horrendous 45% to #5, hopefully the new model launched in June will revert this trend somehow. Record showing for the VW Polo, down 2% for up to #6 and reaching a best-ever #5 for a couple of month over the period.

The Kia Rio is on the Russian podium for the first time in the history of the nameplate.

The Lada Largus, none other than a rebadged previous gen Dacia Logan MCV, is the most popular (and only) all-new model in the Top 25, landing directly at #11 with 24,702 sales. Other great performers in Russia over the period include the Toyota RAV4 up 43% to #16, Kia Sportage up 6 spots and 5% to #19, Kia Cee’d up to #22 and Hyundai ix35 up 17% to #24. Brand-wise, Lada drops from 17.8% to 17% share, Renault stays #2 at 7.8% while both Kia and Hyundai gain one spot to #3 and #4, passing Chevrolet. Geely is up 87% to #25 and Great Wall up 77% to #27.

Previous post: Russia June 2013: Lada Granta beats volume and share records

One year ago: Russia 6 months 2012: Lada loses grip on models ranking

Full 6 months 2013 Top 25, 2011-2013 Top 10 models and Top 56 All-brands Ranking Tables below.