Russia August 2022: Market down -62.4%, Lada at highest share in 17 years, Haval (+26%) up to #3 brand

Over 1 in every 4 light vehicles sold in Russia in August is a Lada Granta.

The Russian new light vehicle market continues to slow down its fall in August at -62.4% year-on-year to 41,698 registrations, compared with -74.9% in July, -82% in June, -83.5% in May, -78.5% in April and -62.9% in March. The year-to-date now falls -60.7% to 410,548 vs. 1,044,766 a year ago, keep in mind this doesn’t include Chery, Chery Exeed who have stopped reporting sales, as well as Mercedes and BMW brands who only report quarterly. The two trends towards Russian and Chinese brands amplify this month. The big news is Lada (-6.9%) minimising its loss to climb to a mammoth 43.4% share. GAZ (-43.7%) and UAZ (-8.4%) also resist, leading Russian carmakers (-14%) to 56.3% share overall vs. 23.9% a year ago in August 2021. Such Lada and Russian market shares are unseen since 2005 when local brands held 62% of the Russian market.

The Jolion (+176.8%) helps Haval up 26% to #3 in Russia this month.

Chinese fares drop -31.1% to 14.4% share vs. 7.7% in August 2021, the latter figure including Chery and Cheryexeed whereas the 2022 figure does not. Haval (+26%) even manages a large year-on-year uptick to spectacularly climb on the third step of the podium for the month with a record 7.2% share, eclipsing its bests of #5 and 6.2% share hit just last month. Needless to say this is the best performance ever by a Chinese brand in the Russian market. Geely (-8.1%) also resists very well but drops one spot on July to #7. Dongfeng (+171.8%) is also up but off a very low base, as is GAC (+6.9%), while Changan (-19.9%) and FAW (-32.3%) also markedly beat the market. All other carmakers are in the doldrums, with Kia off -76.8%, Hyundai down -79.5%, Renault down -82.1%, Skoda down -88.4% and Volkswagen down -92.1%, and that’s just for the Top 10.

Geely Coolray sales are up 36.2% year-on-year in August.

Over in the models ranking, the Lada Granta (+131.3%) more than doubles its sales year-on-year, a particularly striking performance in the current context leading it to a stratospheric 27.8% share, obviously its new best, advancing past the 20.2% hit last month. It now holds 10.1% of its home market year-to-date. The Lada Niva (-32.3%) is up six spots on July to land at #2 and best-selling SUV in the market, it is followed by the GAZ Gazelle (-49.1%) and Lada Vesta (-67.7%) ensuring the Top 4 is 100% Russian. The Haval Jolion (+176.8%) also posts a surreal year-on-year gain leading it to a record #5, the highest position ever hit by a Chinese model in Russia. The UAZ Classic Commercial (+24.6%) and Geely Coolray (+36.2%) also manage gravity-defying upticks just below. In contrast, the Kia Rio (-83.6%) and Hyundai Creta (-85.5%) implode while the once strong-selling Hyundai Solaris (-96.7%) is by a large margin out of the Top 30.

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

One year ago: Russia August 2021: Chery up to record #9, Lada Vesta best-seller in market down -17%

Full August 2022 Top 40 all brands and Top 30 models below.