Russia June 2020: Skoda (+3.2%), Lexus (+22.5%), Haval (+99.2%) help contain market loss to -14.6%

The Skoda Rapid 2, for now exclusive to Russia, breaks into the Top 25 in June.

Car dealerships are now operational in Russia, and this reopening linked with state support measures as well as delayed purchases have combined to produce a very contained -14.6% year-on-year drop in June sales to 122.622 units. The year-to-date tally, including Mercedes and BMW brand which now only report quarterly, is down -23.3% to 635.959 units. This month homegrown behemoth Lada (-8.9%) manages the best hold in the Top 6, illustrating a “back to basics” tendency with Russian customers. #2 Kia (-12.1%), #4 Renault (-10.4%) and #6 Toyota (-13.9%) also outpace the market for the month but Volkswagen (-20%) and Hyundai (-18.1%) aren’t that lucky. Skoda (+3.2%) scores the only year-on-year gain in the Top 10 while UAZ (-11.8%) resists somewhat but Nissan (-21.7%) and GAZ (-21.6%) struggle. Below, Lexus (+22.5%) and Mazda (+9.2%) shine just outside the Top 10 but once again Chinese carmakers account for the majority of the largest upticks: Changan (+377.7%), FAW (+181%), Haval (+99.2%), Chery (+28.2%) and Geely (+10.4%) all post euphoric scores in very challenging times while Honda (+60%), Fiat (+21.5%) and Suzuki (+10%) also impress.

Haval sales in Russia double year-on-year in June.

Model-wise, the Top 6 best-sellers are back into their YTD order and the 5 most popular all over-perform: the Lada Granta (-1.1%) scores a 15th straight pole position and like last month hits its 2nd highest market share at home at 9.4% below only the 10% hit back in June 2015. The Lada Vesta (-5.6%) and Kia Rio (-4.9%) complete the podium above the Hyundai Creta (+7.8%) scoring the only year-on-year gain in the Top 7 and the largest in the Top 10, ensuring it its Russia’s best-selling SUV for the 46th time in the 47 months since its launch in August 2016. The Toyota RAV4 (+0.6%) and Renault Sandero (+0.1%) also manage tiny upticks in the remainder of the Top 10 just as the Avtovaz Niva (+41.6%) and Mazda CX-5 (+13.3%) are the only additional gainers in the Top 25. 3 recent launches (<12 months) make their way into the June Top 25: the Skoda Karoq scores a 2nd Top 20 finish in the past 3 months at #20, the Renault Arkana secures its first Top 25 finish of 2020 and breaks its ranking record to #22 and the Skoda Rapid PA II, a new model sold alongside the previous gen Rapid in Russia, snaps its first ever Top 25 appearance at #25.

Previous month: Russia May 2020: Lada 4×4, Toyota Prado defy market skewered -51.8%

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

Full June 2020 Top 55 All-brands and Top 25 models below.