Russia April 2015: Datsun fades in market down 41%

First Top 25 ranking in Russia for the Nissan Terrano, a Renault Duster rebadge.

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

The Russian market is stuck in hell: -41.5% year-on-year in April to 132.456 registrations, the lowest April score in over a decade, even below April 2009 in the midst of the global recession. Year-to-date figures are now down 38% on 2014 to 516.135 deliveries, however local organisation AEB rather optimistically foresees a “flattening of the negative trend in the coming months.” Once again local manufacturer Lada fares slightly better than the market at -37% in April and -29% year-to-date, resulting in an improved 17.3% market share. Koreans Kia down 22% to 10.5% share and Hyundai down 14% to 10.3% are the real winners in these troubled times, cementing their spots on the podium and keeping Renault (-41%), Toyota (-54%), Nissan (-47%) and Volkswagen (-44%) at a comfortable distance.

Peaking out: Datsun.

Hero of the past 6 months, recently relaunched low-cost brand Datsun shows worrying signs of peaking out this month: down to #16 overall with 2.508 sales and 1.9% share, its lowest volume since October which was its first full month in market and lowest share since December. The Datsun on-DO, after cracking the Top 10 in December (#10) and January (#7) is now down to #21 with 1.622 sales and 1.2% share, its weakest performance since October. Is the honeymoon between Datsun and Russian car buyers coming to an end? The brand’s April scores still make for an impressive performance taken in isolation in the current depressed Russian context, but the signs of eroded sales frenzy are undeniable.

No splash: Honda sales are down 84% year-on-year in Russia this month.

Still running against the tide are luxury brands in Russia: Mercedes is down just 9% at #11, Lexus is up 5% at #17 with 2.200 registrations whereas it ranked #27 over the Full Year 2014 and Porsche is up 12% to 537 sales and #27 (#39 in 2014). Also, SUV specialist UAZ benefits from the current SUV craze and sees its sales decline by just 3% at #12 with the Patriot progressing further to #20 in the models ranking. At the other end of the scale, Chevrolet, soon to be dismantled in Russia, is down 64% but back up to #8 overall thanks to the Niva, Opel which will be discontinued here at the end of 2015 is down 59%, Citroen down 70%, Chery down 72%, Suzuki down 75%, Peugeot down 76%, Subaru down 79% and Honda down 84%.

Brand’s best-seller: the Skoda Rapid.

The Lada Granta (-21%) maintains itself at a very high market share (7.8%) as do the Hyundai Solaris down just 8% to 6.8% and the Kia Rio down 13% to 5.9%. Despite sales down 40%, the Renault Duster climbs back to #4 and #1 SUV in Russia, also leaping up to #5 in 2015. The VW Polo (-38%) is back up 5 ranks to #5, the Chevrolet Niva up 8 to #9, the Toyota Camry is down just 23% at #12 while the Skoda Rapid celebrates one year in Russia by hitting its best ranking so far at #13. The tail end of the Top 25 is once again crowded with SUVs: the Kia Sportage (#16), Toyota RAV4 (#17), Hyundai ix35 (#18), UAZ Patriot (#20), Mazda CX-5 (#22) and the Nissan Terrano earning its first Top 25 ranking at #24 with 1.272 sales and 1% share.

Previous post: Russia 1st Quarter 2015: Datsun oblivious to devastated market

Previous month: Russia March 2015: Only SUV sales resist in market down 43%

One year ago: Russia April 2014: Nissan Almera breaks records again

Full April 2015 Top 55 All-brands and Top 25 models below.