Russia July 2019: Renault (+11.9%), Mercedes (+11.5%), Skoda (+10.4%) can’t help 5th market drop in past 6 months (-2.4%)

The new Arkana lifts Renault sales up 11.9% in Russia in July.

The Russian new light vehicle market is stuck in a negative rut, July marking the 5th year-on-year decline in the past 6 months. Both this month’s deliveries (139.968) and the year-to-date volume (968.718) are down -2.4%. Homegrown brand leader Lada (+0.3%) defies the depleted context, inching up to hit 21.1% share. #2 Kia (+1.6%) is also in positive at 13.4% of the market but Hyundai (-3.6%) falls slightly faster on the third step of the podium. Thanks to the new Arkana crossover estimated to have sold around 1.600 units in July, Renault (+11.9%) signs the largest gain in the Top 10 just above Mercedes (+11.5%) and Skoda (+10.4%) while GAZ (+1.4%) also edges up but Nissan (-33.2%) freefalls. Further down, Datsun (+34.3%), Suzuki (+15.7%), Porsche (+15.6%) and BMW (+14.2%) shine but none better than Haval (+355.6%) breaking into the Russian monthly Top 20 for the first time at #20, best-selling Chinese brand for the 2nd time ever after last February and reaching the highest market share of any Chinese carmaker this year at 0.8%. It distances Geely (+264.1%) almost equally as dynamic at #21.

Model-wise, the Lada Granta (+40.2%) is still on a high following its facelift, celebrating 4 straight monthly wins, 9 wins in the past year and its 49th win overall – the most of any nameplate this decade. The Lada Vesta (-0.6%), Kia Rio (-8.1%), Hyundai Creta (+1.9%), Solaris (-12.5%), VW Polo (-18.3%) and Lada Largus (+2.8%) follow exactly the same order as YTD. The Kia Sportage (+27.8%) leaps up 9 spots on June to #8, the Toyota RAV4 (+12.4%) is up 5 to #9 and the Skoda Rapid (+8.5%) is up 2 to round up the Top 10. Further down, the Kia Optima (+111.8%), Nissan Qashqai (+32.2%), Skoda Kodiaq (+28.3%), VW Tiguan (+25.8%), Renault Kaptur (+19%), Mazda CX-5 (+15.3%), Renault Logan (+15.1%) and Mitsubishi Outlander (+13.6%) are the most dynamic.

Previous month: Russia June 2019: Ford (+42.8%), Haval, Geely defy 4th market drop in past 5 months (-3.3%)

One year ago: Russia July 2018: Skoda shines, Lada Vesta leads and teases Kia Rio YTD

Full July 2019 Top 52 All-brands and Top 25 models below.