Russia July 2016: Renault Kaptur instant blockbuster, Ravon brand lands

The Renault Kaptur is already among the 20 best-selling nameplates in Russia. 

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

The Russian market freefall has seemingly entered a bottomless pit, with sales down another 16% year-on-year in July to just 109.410 units, leading to a year-to-date tally down 14% to 781.605. Local manufacturer Lada resists very well thanks to a frank renewal of its lineup with deliveries up 4% to 19.9% share vs. 16% a year ago. Kia (-11%) and Hyundai (-12%) follow and drop slightly slower than the market while Renault is down just 8% to cement its fourth place overall with 8.3% market share. Volkswagen (-2%), Nissan (-8%), Skoda (+12%), GAZ (-1%) and Ford (-7%) also improve their market share inside the Top 10 whereas Toyota (-26%) disappoint. Below, Lexus (+0.2%), Lifan (+0.3%), Mercedes (+1%), Cadillac (+30%), Volkswagen Vans (+50%), Infiniti (+100%), Jaguar (+100%) and Smart (+123%) are among a handful of marques actually posting a sales increase.

Ravon Nexia

This month the Uzbekistan-based Daewoo brand disappears from the Russian ranking because it has now been discontinued, having sold a relatively solid 8.574 units in 6 months (-29%). It has now been replaced in Russia by an entirely new brand: Ravon, which appears in the sales charts for the first time in July at #33 with a timid 237 sales and 0.2% share, inserting itself in-between Geely (242) and Jaguar (220). Although this is a new brand, the Uzebek-assembled lineup is the same as that of Daewoo (Matiz, Spark, Nexia, Cobalt and Gentra) and could enable Chevrolet to re-enter the Russian market if it decides to do so at a later stage.

Nissan Qashqai

In the models ranking, the Hyundai Solaris snaps the top spot for the 10th time in the past 15 months despite sales down 23% to 7.904, taking a serious option at the FY2016 pole position and distancing the Kia Rio (-17%) and Lada Granta (-30%), also falling faster than the market. The Lada Vesta continues to creep up the ranking,  posting new volume (5.198) and market share (4.8%) personal bests in 4th position overall, now also its year-to-date ranking. The VW Polo (+12%), Renault Duster (+2%), Skoda Rapid (+17%) and Octavia (+8%), Kia Sportage (+22%), Nissan Qashqai (+74%) and Almera (+19%) all deliver very satisfying volume gains, but the most impressive nameplate inside the Russian Top 25 in July is without a doubt the all-new Renault Kaptur – in fact a Duster with a facelifted and stretched Captur “wrapping paper”, breaking into the Top 20 as early as for its 2nd month in market, soaring to #18 and 1.419 sales.

Previous post: Russia First Half 2016: Hyundai Solaris takes charge in market down 14%

Previous month: Russia June 2016: Hyundai Solaris back on top, Lada Vesta resumes growth

One year ago: Russia July 2015: Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio take root above all Ladas

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