Russia May 2018: 15th consecutive gain in highest market in 4 years

The Creta (+37%) and Tucson (+195%) help Hyundai up 33% in Russia in May.

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

At +18%, May 2018 marks a stunning 13 consecutive months of double-digit gains for the Russian new car market, also extending a 15-month streak of year-on-year uplifts at 147.525 units, the highest May result since 2014 (201.487). The year-to-date volume is now up 20% to 692.870, also at its highest since 2014 (1.030.533). National leader Lada trails its home market slightly at +14% to 19.4% but posts a round 20% share so far in 2018 (+23%). Both Kia (+29%) at #2 and Hyundai (+33%) at #3 brilliantly outpace the market as do Volkswagen (+27%) at #5 and Skoda (+20%) at #8.

Russian Haval sales are up 65% year-on-year this month. Picture zr.ru

However Renault (+11%), Toyota (+9%), GAZ (+7%), Nissan (+3%) and most strikingly Ford (-6%) all underperform in the Top 10. Further down, Honda (+727%), Genesis (+231%), Mitsubishi (+141%), Mini (+76%), Peugeot (+54%), Jeep (+43%), Mazda (+43%) and UAZ (+40%) gallop ahead. The Chinese charge continues, with FAW (+279%), Dongfeng (+200%), Zotye (+73%) and Haval (+65%) the best performers. At the other end of the scale, Ravon (-58%), Datsun (-29%), Audi (-15%) and Land Rover (-14%) are in great difficulty this month in Russia.

The Kia Rio remains the best-selling vehicle in Russia.

The Kia Rio is headed towards a second consecutive annual win in Russia, celebrating a 4th straight month at #1 and a 16th win in the past 22 months thanks to sales up 10% to 6% share, fighting off the Lada Granta (+16%) and Vesta (+17%) with the Hyundai Solaris (+11%) closing up the Top 4 and the Hyundai Creta (+37%), VW Polo (+34%) and Lada Largus (+45%) all comfortably beating the market like last month. The Hyundai Tucson (+195%), Mitsubishi Outlander (+93%), Kia Sportage (+34%), Mazda CX-5 (+34%) and VW Tiguan (+26%) confirm SUVs are all the rage in Russia with the Kia Cee’d (+56%) the only hatch managing a sizeable gain in the Top 25.

Previous month: Russia April 2018: Lada XRAY breaks records in market up 17.6%

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

Full May 2018 Top 54 All-brands and Top 25 models below.