Russia August 2019: Renault (+12.3%) surfs on Arkana success in market down -1.6%

The Renault Arkana breaks into the Russian Top 25 in August.

New light vehicle sales in Russia continue to slide down yet post a measured -1.6% year-on-year decline in August, the 6th in the past 7 months, to 145.545 units which leads to a year-to-date volume down -2.3% to 1.114.263. Once again homegrown brand leader Lada (+4.6%) defies the negative trend to hit 20.6% share, in line with the 21% it commands YTD. Kia (-1.7%) follows the market at #2 with 12.7%, the two aforementioned brands being the only ones above the symbolic 10% share in Russia this month. Hyundai (+0.5%) edges up to stay at #3 while Renault (+12.3%) posts the largest gain in the Top 5 for the 2nd consecutive month. For its part BMW (+17.3%) is the best performer in the Top 10, with GAZ (+6%) and Skoda (+3.9%) also up. Below, Haval (+457.8%) cements its #1 Chinese spot, Geely (+134%) continues to impress and both Mercedes (+9.5%) and Datsun (+9.5%) also post solid scores. Among smaller brands (0.4% share and under), Fiat (+469.2%), Citroen (+129%), Isuzu (+86.7%), Iveco (+77.5%), Smart (+65.6%), FAW (+43.4%), Porsche (+30.1%) and Peugeot (+20.1%) make themselves noticed.

In the models ranking, the Lada Granta (+59.5%) continues to get spectacularly boosted by its facelift, securing a 5th consecutive win, 10th in the past 12 months and celebrating its 50th monthly win since launch, by far the most of any nameplate this decade. Leader last year, the Lada Vesta (+9.6%) remains solid with a sturdy optic while the Kia Rio (-10.5%) struggles at #3. The Hyundai Creta (+4.7%) extends its streak as the #1 SUV in Russia to 37 consecutive months with no interruption since launching exactly 3 years ago in August 2016: in other words the Creta has never not been the best-selling SUV in the country.  The Kia Sportage (+42.1%) and VW Tiguan (+32.6%) both post impressive surges in the Top 10 in contrast with the Renault Duster (-12.1%). Below, notice the Mazda CX-5 (+24%), Skoda Kodiaq (+22.9%), Toyota Camry (+14.7%) and Renault Logan (+13.4%) helped by the new Stepway variant, but the performer of the month is the Renault Arkana breaking into the Russian Top 25 for its 2nd month in market at #23.

Previous month: Russia July 2019: Renault (+11.9%), Mercedes (+10.5%), Skoda (+10.4%) can’t help 5th market drop in past 6 months (-2.4%)

One year ago: Russia August 2018: Lada Vesta now only 35 sales off Kia Rio YTD

Full August 2019 Top 53 All-brands and Top 25 models below.