Russia May 2017: Recovery sets in with sales up 14.7%

Lada sales are up 22% at home with the Vesta up 75% to third place. Picture zr.ru 

* See the Top 54 All-brands and Top 25 models by clicking on the title *

This is it: the Russian new car market looks to be back on track. With a 14.7% increase in May to 124.990 units, it posts the largest year-on-year gain since August 2012. The year-to-date tally is now up 5.1% to 577.449 units. The good news is the fact that this growth is spread across most best-selling brands and is not reliant on a handful of high performing ones. Leaders Lada (+22%) and Kia (+26%) both frankly outpace the market to post stronger-than-YTD market shares, and are followed by Hyundai (+13%), Renault (+22%), Toyota (+15%) and Volkswagen (+28%). In fact, inside the Top 10 Nissan (+7%) and Skoda (+6%) are the only manufacturers not posting double-digit gains. The gains are slimmer further down the ranking but Mazda (+36%), Mitsubishi (+34%) and Volvo (+114%) shine. This month we welcome Haval in the Russian brands ranking as the company discloses sales since January in one go. The Chinese manufacturer lands at #35 with 173 sales and totals 687 units year-to-date.

The Kia Rio now has a firm grip on the Russian models ranking, once again ranking #1 but trailing market growth at +7%. The Lada Granta struggles at -8%, followed closely by the Lada Vesta (+75%) lodging its highest ever market share at 5.2%, also hit last January. The Hyundai Solaris (-24%) continues to skid, but the manufacturer makes up for it with the unwavering success of the Creta at #5 and holding onto the title of best-selling SUV in Russia, a position it has ranked ever since it launched in August 2016. The next best-selling SUVs are the Renault Duster (-17%) and Toyota RAV4 (+23%) with the Lada XRAY (+80%) now settling into the Top 10 at #9. Notice also the Toyota Camry up 20%, Kia Sportage up 60%, VW Tiguan up 241%, Nissan Almera up 78%, Lada Kalina up 60% and Ford Focus up 53%.

Previous month: Russia April 2017: Market confirms rebound at +6.9%

One year ago: Russia May 2016: Skoda and Ford escape overall gloom

Full May 2017 Top 54 All-brands and Top 25 models below.