Kazakhstan January 2022: Unrest sends market down -53%, Hyundai leaps to record 36.2% share

The Hyundai Elantra is the best-selling vehicle in Kazakhstan in January.

Social unrest in the country in January, triggered by sudden sharp increase in liquefied gas prices, resulted in 227 deaths and 9,900 arrests and the car market is evidently affected. January 2022 sales are down -53% year-on-year to just 3,916 units. Hyundai (-40.8%) climbs to an unheard of 36.2% market share for the month, the only carmaker selling more than 500 units in January. Far below is Toyota (-52.5%) matching the market and with 12.7% share. New local producer Chevrolet (-85.6%) is by far the hardest hit and drops to third place with only 8.2% of the market vs. 24.8% over the Full Year 2021. GAZ (-15.1%), Renault (-16.5%) and Kia (-17.5%) resist much better than the market, resulting in improved market share. 2nd best-selling Chinese manufacturer below JAC (#9), Haval (#10) breaks into the Top 10 for the very first time. Infiniti (+33.3%), Audi (+14.3%) and Land Rover (+10%) are the only year-on-year gainers in the market for the month.

The Hyundai Elantra (+497.6%) is up 6-fold year-on-year to take the lead of the models ranking with a suffocating 12.7% share, more than any other brand in the market. The Hyundai Tucson (-54.1%) is up 14 ranks on last month and follows at a distance at 7% share, while the Toyota Camry (-46.8%) is up two spots on December to #3. The Hyundai Accent (-77.1%) loses more than three quarters of its January 2021 sales and falls to #4 ahead of the Hyundai Creta (-57.2%) up three ranks on last month to #5. Leader over the Full Year 2021 and in December, the Chevrolet Cobalt (-87.3%) falls to #6 in January, distancing the Kia Sorento and GAZ Gazelle (-11%). The Lada Vesta (-46.6%) and Toyota RAV4 (-54.2%) round out the Top 10. Below, the Kia Sportage (+6000%), Hyundai Santa Fe (+716.7%) and JAC J7 (+356.3%) show explosive growth. The Haval Jolion (#21) is the best-selling recent launch (<12 months) ahead of the Haval F7 (#26), Hyundai Palisade (#32) and Chevrolet Equinox (#33).

Previous post: Kazakhstan Full Year 2021: Chevrolet and Cobalt take control in market up 26.5%

One year ago: Kazakhstan January 2021: Chevrolet Cobalt and Nexia top market up 55.9%

Full January 2022 Top 32 All-brands and Top 125 All-models below.