Russia May 2021: Lada hits highest market share in over 10 years, sales up 12.6% on two years ago

The Lada Niva is the best-selling SUV in Russia in May.

New light vehicle sales in Russia bounce back 133.8% year-on-year in May to 147.378 units, lifting the year-to-date tally up 38.7% to 663.312. More significantly, the market is up 12.6% on pre-pandemic May 2019, when removing Daimler and BMW brands as these started reporting quarterly in 2020. Homegrown market leader Lada (+145.7%) outpaces the market to reach 26% share, its highest at home in over 10 years: since January 2011 (27.9%). This is a fantastic recovery for Lada as it fell to a lowest-ever 13.3% in November 2014. Below, Kia (+135%) and Hyundai (+151.1%) also beat the market but Renault (+121.3%) isn’t that lucky. At #5, Skoda (+230.5%) scores the largest gain in the Top 9 with Volkswagen (+151.7%) also advancing faster than the market at #6. GAZ (+61.1%), Toyota (+63.8%) and Nissan (+72.9%) all underperform.

Haval (+324%) is the biggest gainer in the Top 10, it breaks its all-time record share for the 4th consecutive month at 2.1%, equals its ranking record for the third month running at #10 and breaks its all-time monthly volume record for the third consecutive month at 3.167. Keep in mind BMW and Mercedes don’t share monthly volumes anymore as they only report quarterly and would traditionally rank inside the Top 10 or thereabouts. Chery (+887.8%) progresses even faster and also breaks its volume record at 2.990, equalling its ranking (#11) and share (2%) records. Further down, Opel (+1518.2%), Infiniti (+768.2%), Genesis (+569.4%), Volvo (+470.8%), Peugeot (+427.3%), Citroen (+391.6%), Cadillac (+329.4%), Subaru (+325.5%), Mitsubishi (+319.5%) and Geely (+316.9%) all score outstanding year-on-year gains.

The Hyundai Santa Fe breaks into the Russian Top 20 this month. Picture zr.ru

In the models ranking, the Lada Granta (+124%) and Vesta (+124.6%) evolve almost identically, a smidge below the market growth to easily retain the top two spots at 8.7% and 6.8% share respectively. These levels are almost exactly the same as year-to-date. The Kia Rio (+82.8%) underperforms but remains in third place while the Hyundai Solaris (+223.9%) is up three ranks on April to #4. The Lada Niva (+124.6%) which now includes models previously known as Lada 4×4 and Chevrolet Niva, is the best-selling SUV in Russia this month in 5th place overall, displacing the Hyundai Creta (+76.3%). This means the Creta is not the #1 SUV in Russia for only the second time in 58 months, since its launch in August 2016. The only other time was in April 2020 when the VW Tiguan was #1.

All remaining models in the Top 10 outpace the market: the Skoda Rapid PA II (+1868.7%) celebrates one year in market, with the Renault Duster (+157.4%), Lada Largus (+145.5%) and VW Polo (+136.4%) also strong. Just outside the Top 10, the Toyota Camry (+204.9%) and VW Tiguan (+160.5%) also shine while the Kia K5 is up one spot on last month to break its ranking record at #13. After breaking into the Russian Top 25 for the first time last month, the Hyundai Santa Fe (+444.5%) is now well inside the Top 20 at a new record #16. Notice also the Skoda Karoq (+280.8%), Kia Sportage (+179.7%) and Skoda Kodiaq (+163.3%) very solid further down.

Previous month: Russia April 2021: Haval confirms Top 10 finish in market up 2.5% on two years ago

One year ago: Russia May 2020: Lada 4×4, Toyota Prado defy market skewered -51.8% 

Full May 2021 Top 50 All-brands and Top 25 models below.