The Car Market Began To Revive: How New Cars Were Sold In May 2020

Video: The Car Market Began To Revive: How New Cars Were Sold In May 2020

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 02:36

The Russian market for new passenger cars has begun to recover from the effects of the coronavirus. In May 2020 61.7 thousand new passenger cars were registered … it 47.7% lessthan a year ago, but still 13% more than in "black April". In total, 492.1 thousand cars have been registered since the beginning of the year - minus 17.1%.

Alexey Mukhanov, leading analyst at Avto.ru

May was marked by the beginning of the lifting of restrictions on the work of car dealerships and the subsequent revival in the automotive market. As a result, the drop in demand in May was less than in April, but the level of sales is still noticeably below the “pre-quarantine” level. Dealers are adjusting to new operating conditions and are witnessing a resurgence in customer activity. However, prices for new cars continue to rise, and buyers are adjusting their plans, and in different directions: some, worried about the threat of the virus, decided to urgently get a personal car, and Russians who have partially or completely lost their income are postponing the purchase. Some are expecting a worsening of the crisis and are counting on better offers towards the end of the year. In such a situation, a quick recovery in car sales looks doubtful, given the continued risk of a second wave of the disease and the prospects for economic problems.

Subcompact cars (A-class)

The subcompact car segment continues to plummet, with just a hundred city cars registered in May, down 83.3% from a year ago. We can say that today there is only one segment model left on the Russian market - KiPicanto. In May, its sales fell by 74%, to 95 units, and since the beginning of the year - by 63%, to 631 units.

In total, 718 subcompact cars have been registered since the beginning of the year, 68% less than in January-May 2019. Among the most popular models are Smart Fortwo and Forfour (33 and 10 units, respectively), Fiat 500 (18 units).

Compact cars (B, B + -class)

The demand for cars of classes "B" and "B +" decreased by 47.5% - 26 thousand cars were registered. However, the segment's share grew slightly - by 0.1 points, to 42.2%.

Interest in top-3 cars has fallen, but less than in the market as a whole. The smallest monthly minus is for the bestseller, the LadGrant family (minus 42%). Since the beginning of the year, the model has been selling 17.9% worse than a year ago (40.1 thousand cars). KiRio has the best dynamics from January to May: minus 12.7% (29.9 thousand cars). LadVest was chosen by almost 35 thousand buyers over the same period - minus 22.9%.

According to the results of five months in the top 10, the minimum drop was in KiRio, and the maximum was in SkodRapid (minus 34.6%, 8.3 thousand cars). Outside the top 10, the Mini Clubman is a plus, with 42% more buyers this year than last year.

Since the beginning of the year, 191.4 thousand cars of this segment have been registered in the traffic police, which is 22% less than in the same period a year ago. The share of cars of classes "B" and "B +" decreased to 38.9%, by 2.5 points.

Mid-size cars (C-class)

And without the crisis, the “C” segment, which is in decline, fell by 63% - 2.4 thousand cars were registered. Their share in May decreased to 3.9% (minus 1.6 points).

The top three are the usual models. According to the results of five months, only the KiCerato sedan increased its audience: plus 25.6%, 5.1 thousand registered cars. The worst dynamics is for KiCeed: minus 37.8%, 4 thousand cars. 7.3 thousand motorists have stopped at SkodOctavi (minus 14%).

Traditionally good dynamics is found in the new Mercedes-Benz CLA-class. The model went on sale only at the beginning of the summer of 2019, so the demand for cars of the previous generation dropped noticeably, which created the effect of a low base. Both at the end of the month and since the beginning of 2020 (plus 181%, 556 cars) CL is the record-breaking growth in the golf class among the best-selling models.

Also, the positive dynamics following the results of five months was maintained by Mercedes-Benz A-class: plus 16%, 460 cars. Stagnation - at the Audi A3 (310 cars).

From January to May, 20.3 thousand cars of the segment were registered - minus 38.7%. The share decreased by 1.5 points to 4.1%.

Large cars (D-class)

Slightly more cars, 2,500 units, were registered in the D segment in May. But this is still 64.7% less than in May 2019. The share decreased by 1.9 points to 4%.

Among the "segment-forming" models - ToyotCamry and KiOptim - unchanged: Camry sales are consistently 1.5-2 times higher than Optima. The dynamics of the "Japanese" is also slightly better. According to the results of five months, Camry was chosen by 9.1 thousand customers (minus 28.2%), Optima - 5.3 thousand (minus 37.8%).

Mazda6 finally lost the third position, giving way to Hyundai Sonata. In five months, the Japanese sedan was preferred by 12% fewer customers than the Korean one (1.7 thousand people and 1.8 thousand, respectively). Demand for both models declined by 24% over this period.

Among the best-selling cars in the segment from January to May, only Geely Emgrand maintained positive dynamics (256 cars, plus 41.4%). The smallest drop is in Audi A4, minus 1.3% (757 cars).

In total, 23.1 thousand class “D” cars have been registered since January, which is 32.3% less than a year ago. Their share decreased to 4.7% (minus 1.1 points).

Business class (E-class)

In May, the number of registered business class cars dropped by 54.6% to 650 cars.

The group of leaders is dominated by the BMW 5 Series, which is 20% ahead of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class by the results of five months. Far from them, but already in a confident third place, is another representative of the German troika, Audi A6. Thanks to low sales in the first half of 2019, the sedan is now showing record dynamics: the demand for it has risen 3.5 times, more than 600 cars have been registered.

Also, following the results of five months, buyers' interest in the four-door Mercedes-Benz AMG GT (plus 137%, 147 cars) and Volvo S90 (plus 2%, 108 units) increased.

In total, from January to May, 5.7 thousand business class cars were registered, which is 22.3% less than in the same period in 2019.

Luxury cars (F-class)

The demand for premium and luxury cars decreased by 69.2%, only 102 cars were registered.

The best-selling models are Mercedes-Benz S-class (36 units, minus 57.6%), BMW 7 Series (36 units, minus 58.1%) and Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-class (12 units, minus 70%). Audi A8 was registered only by 7 owners (minus 83.7%).

Among luxury brands, 2 Aston Martin, 14 Bentley, 1 Ferrari, 13 Lamborghini and 9 Rolls-Royce were registered in the country in May. In total, this is 31.5% less than a year earlier. For five months, there are 238 such cars (minus 13%).

According to the results from January to May, the BMW 7 Series was the best in keeping the dynamics of the model: sales of the model decreased by only 3.3% (295 units). Mercedes-Benz S-class and luxury Maybachs were registered less often by 50% (347 units) and 31% (150 units), respectively. The situation is the worst with the Lexus LS: minus 90%, only 8 cars.

For 5 months, 990 expensive cars were registered, which is 44.6% less than a year earlier.

Crossovers and SUVs

Crossovers and SUVs were chosen by 28.4 thousand people, 44.2% less than a year earlier. Their share increased by 2.8 points to 46%.

The leader - Hyundai Cret - sagged along with the market by the end of the month: minus 41.2%. Nevertheless, from January to May, the demand for the crossover decreased by only 5.6%, to 24.4 thousand cars.

In the top 20 most popular SUVs in May, the Lexus RX has the best dynamics: minus 3.1% and 623 cars. The strongest drop was recorded for Renault Kaptur: minus 66%, 737 cars. From January to May the best result was shown by ToyotRAV4: plus 26.1%, 13.5 thousand units, the worst - again by the compact “Frenchman”: minus 39%, 6.9 thousand units.

Mass market brands account for over 80% of sales in the segment. In May, they were bought 46.2% worse than last year: 23.5 thousand cars were registered. For five months, the statistics are much better: a drop of 9.6%, 202.9 thousand cars were registered.

The segment of premium crossovers and SUVs sank less - by 32.1%, to 4.8 thousand units. Only one model made it to the top 20 best-selling SUVs in May - the Lexus RX. Among the most popular premium models, the best dynamics was recorded for Mercedes-Benz GLE-class (plus 143%, 231 cars), BMW X6 (plus 68%, 289 units), BMW X5 (plus 33.6%, 441 cars), Audi Q7 (plus 1%, 196 pieces). The strongest demand fell for the compact Audi Q5 (minus 64.1%, 99 units). For five months, 36.9 thousand cars were registered (plus 4.5%).

Sales of crossovers of Chinese brands decreased by 21.6%, to 1.5 thousand units. The segment was kept from a stronger fall by the good results of the Chery Tiggo 4, Haval F7 and Geely Coolray models, which this year became the best-selling Chinese models. A year ago, these models were not yet on the market. The growth was also marked by Changan CS35 and Chery Tiggo 5. From January to May, 12.9 thousand customers chose crossovers of Chinese brands - plus 37.1%.

From January to May, 283.2 thousand SUVs appeared on the roads of the country - only 8.8% less than in the same period in 2019. The share increased to 48.4% (plus a record 4.4 points).

Pickup trucks

The popularity of pickups decreased by 20.1% over the month, 521 cars were registered.

The main demand here falls on the already popular models: ToyotHilux, UAZ pickup and Mitsubishi L200. Moreover, the hard worker from Mitsubishi Motors continues to grow its audience after the disastrous 2019, even now: in May, the model added almost 4% to sales, and since the beginning of the year it was chosen by 27% more customers than in January-May 2019.

Volkswagen Amarok (247 units, plus 4.7%), Mercedes-Benz X-class (185 units, plus 42.3%) and Isuzu D-Max (127 cars, plus 36.6%)).

In total, from January to May, 3.5 thousand pickups were registered in Russia - minus 4.2%.

Sports coupes

Sports coupes in May 2020 sold twice as bad as a year ago - only 300 cars were sold.

The most popular models are representatives of the German troika: Audi A5, BMW 2 and 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz C- and E-classes. They account for more than 70% of the segment's sales. Other models are in less demand. Some - because of the high price, such as Bentley or Porsche cars, others - because of the "niche" (Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro).

Since the beginning of the year, sales of sports coupe in Russia have exceeded the mark of 1.8 thousand units, which is 18% more than in the same period last year.