Chinese brands account for almost a third of Russia’s car market, data shared with Reuters shows, as the sector more than any other shows China’s growing importance to the economy following the exodus of Western companies.
New sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are down almost 61% year-on-year, as Western sanctions curb Russia’s access to some materials and falling demand and high prices further hit the sector.
But sales of Chinese branded passenger cars, including Haval, Chery and Geely have surged, rising to 16,138 units in November, almost double than the 8,235 units in January, while market share reached 31.3% from just 9.6%, data from Russian analytical agency Autostat showed.
According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), Russia’s new passenger car and LCV sales were 46,403 in November, and sales should reach around 600,000 for this year overall. “There is little production of Western car brands and few imports, so the market is divided between the Russian and Chinese car industries,” Russian automotive analyst Vladimir Bespalov told Reuters.
Russian cars satisfy demand at lower prices – up to about 1.5 million rubles ($23,961), while Chinese cars in addition to lower priced segments are also taking over the Western niche of prices above 2.5 million rubles.
Most Western automakers, who have fought with domestic automakers for market share since they began building factories in Russia in the early 2000s, ceased operations after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February.
The soviet-era Moskvich (which is now using China’s JAC engines, design, and platform) is produced at a plant taken over from Renault, while Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Ford are among the others that have left Russia. If the economic situation remains unchanged, Chinese producers, including the Moskvich, could account for around 35% of sales in Russia next year, Bespalov said, estimating the market would recover to 800,000 units.
In monetary terms, the share could surpass 40% of what he expects will be a 1.5-trillion-ruble market in 2023. China’s sales volumes in Russia pale by comparison with in its domestic market, where in November they were about 35 times higher than in Russia. For the first 10 months of the year, Russia was the 6th-largest export destination for Chinese automotive products, which includes vehicles and parts, according to China’s Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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