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Russia January 2016: Market down 29%, Lada Vesta in Top 10

Lada Vesta Russia January 2016The Lada Vesta surges to 9th place overall in Russia this month. 

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

The new car market crisis is deepening in Russia, with January down a further 29% year-on-year to just 81.849 registrations, the first time in six years Russian new car sales fall below 100.000 monthly units. In fact, it is only the third time in the past decade that the market sinks to five-digit figures, along with January 2010 (74.086 units) and February 2010 (91.922). Thanks to the gearing up of the Vesta adding 1.643 units to the mix (#9), local manufacturer Lada fares better than its home market, limiting its fall to -11% at 15.577 deliveries and 19% share: way above its 2015 level of 16.8%. Kia gains share at 11.1% thanks to sales down “just” 20% as does Toyota at 7.4% (-15%) but Hyundai (-37%), Renault (-43%) and Nissan (-51%) implode.

Porsche Macan Russia January 2016. Picture courtesy zr.ruCrisis? What crisis? Porsche sales are up 60% in Russia this month.

It’s not all bad news though, especially for luxury brands as the weak ruble has made top-end models less expensive in Russia and even more attractive to wealthy Russians: Porsche is up 60%, Lexus up 57% and Mercedes 1%. The Chinese are also back in force with Lifan up a spectacular 63% to 1.5% share vs. 0.9% in 2015, Geely up 23% and Chery up 1%. Notice also GAZ up 1% while Ford and Suzuki both see their volumes surge by a stunning 25% year-on-year. At the other end of the scale, Chevrolet is down 61%, Jeep down 63%, Datsun down 66%, Ssangyong down 79% and Volvo down 94%. Great Wall and JAC did not sell a single car in Russia this month and if Opel also didn’t, that’s because the brand was discontinued in the country.

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Russia January 2016. Picture courtesy zr.ruThe Toyota Land Cruiser 200 is up 265% on January 2015.

Small volumes send the models ranking into a spin. The podium remains unchanged on FY 2015, but for once the Lada Granta (-5%) is a lot stronger than the Hyundai Solaris (-32%) and Kia Rio (-31%) despite the focus on the Vesta arrival. The Toyota RAV4 gains a sparkly 38% to land in 4th place, the nameplate’s best-ever Russian ranking. Same story for the Kia Sportage up 56% to a record 6th position, both models outselling the segment’s traditional leader the Renault Duster, still gaining share thanks to sales down 13% only. The Lada Largus is up 9% to #8, the Skoda Rapid (-20%) leaps to #11, the Kia Cee’d (-8%) is up to #15 and the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 takes full advantage of its facelift with sales up 4-fold year-on-year to #21 and 1.014 deliveries.

Previous post: Russia Full Year 2015: Hyundai Solaris teases Lada Granta in market down 36%

One year ago: Russia January 2015: Hyundai Solaris hits #1 in market down 24%

Full January 2016 Top 25 models and Top 55 All-brands below.

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