Russia July 2022: Russian and Chinese brands see market share surge, sales down -74.9%

The Lada Granta holds a record 20.2% share in Russia in July.

The Russian new light vehicle market slows down its fall slightly in July at -74.9% year-on-year to 32,412 registrations vs. -82% in June, -83.5% in May and -78.5% in April. The year-to-date tally is now -60.5% to 368,850, this doesn’t include Chery, Chery Exeed who have stopped reporting sales, as well as Mercedes and BMW brands who only report quarterly. As stock thins down, sales of some brands are starting to show significantly larger year-on-year falls, such as Volkswagen (-92.5%), Skoda (-92%) and Renault (-85.2%). Two groups of carmakers fare better than the Russian market this month and this is a mid-term trend: first Russian ones (-62.2%) going from 29.8% share in July 2021 to 46.1% this month. Notably Lada (-67.8%) up to 31.8% share, its highest in over a decade, GAZ (-38.7%) up to 8.8% of the market and UAZ (-38.2%) up to 5.5%. Secondly Chinese brands down just -31.8% and going from just 5.5% share in July 2021 to 15.4% this month keeping in mind Chery isn’t included in the July and YTD results.

Kia (-77.1%) remains in 2nd place while Hyundai (-74.6%) overtakes GAZ to #3. Meanwhile Haval (-32.7%) is up one spot on June to break into the Top 5 for the first time at #5, the first Chinese brand to do so in Russian history. Geely (-24%) follows as it gains two ranks on last month to a record 6th place. The two manufacturers of course break their share record at 6.1% and 5.9% respectively. Renault (-85.2%) falls three spots on June to #8 with Skoda (-92%) and Volkswagen (-92.5%) rounding out the Top 10. Below, Changan is actually up (+24.2%), ending the month at a record #11 vs. #21 year-to-date. FAW (-10.7%) also performs very well, up to a record #14. Dongfeng (+298%) sports a spectacular year-on-year lift and gains 7 ranks on June to a record #16. No other brand manages a positive result in the rest of the market.

Model-wise, the Lada Granta (-39.9%) smashes its record market share at 20.2% vs. a previous best of 11.9% hit just last month. It now holds 8.1% of the market year-to-date. The GAZ Gazelle (-42.2%) remains in 2nd place vs. #6 year-to-date, while the Lada Vesta (-84%) closes out a podium unchanged on last month. The Hyundai Creta (-75.1%) is the best-selling SUV in the country once again at #4 overall, its highest ranking since last November. Below the Kia Rio (-79.4%), the Haval Jolion (+6.3%) is actually up year-on-year and repeats at a record #6, the highest position ever reached by a Chinese model in Russia. Just below at #7, the Geely Coolray (-28.3%) shoots up 8 spots on June to a record #7. In fact, whereas the July 2021 Top 25 contained only one Chinese model (and it was the first time this happened too), the July 2022 Top 20 has four: add the new Geely Atlas Pro at #17 and the Geely Tugella (+344%) at #19. The UAZ Classic Commercial (-29.2), GAZ Sobol (-22.5%) and UAZ Patriot (-46.8%) also outpace the market while the Hyundai Sonata (-26.6%) and Hyundai Elantra (+7.7%) appear in the Top 30 for the first time.

Previous month: Russia June 2022: Haval Jolion first Chinese model in Top 10 at #6, market off -82%

One year ago: Russia July 2021: Chery and Kia K5 break into Top 10, Geely Coolray first Chinese in Top 25, sales off -6.5%

Full July 2022 Top 45 All-brands and Top 30 models below.