How New Cars Were Actually Sold In Russia In September

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 13:59

Auto.ru analysts have studied the data of registrations of new passenger cars for September 2019. Contrary to the report of the Association of European Businesses (AEB), according to which sales of new cars stagnated, the real situation turned out to be not so positive: in the first autumn month, only 123.9 thousand cars - on the 11.9% less than a year ago! Over the nine months, demand dropped 2.4%, although in July and August the market showed signs of growth. From January to September, 1,124,000 new "cars" were registered in Russia.

The revival of the market that began in the summer came to an end in September, and new car sales fell below the results of 2017. During the first month of autumn, sales of the three leading brands dropped sharply - even despite the fact that state support is aimed at cars in the budget segment. For Ki and Hyundai, car sharing is becoming a significant sales market, the fleet of which is regularly updated in the capital. Most of the market participants managed to adjust their optimistic forecasts, so that overstocking of warehouses and sales will not happen. In November-December, the market may revive against the background of a possible increase in the utilization rate in 2020, which, according to experts, will lead to a rise in the price of cars by about 2-4%, said Alexey Mukhanov, a leading analyst at Avto.ru.

Subcompact cars (A-class)

In the smallest segment of the Russian market, the decline continues: in September, only 307 small cars were registered with the traffic police - 35.2% less than a year ago.

Demand for the segment's top-selling model, KiPicanto, has been declining for the fifth month in a row. For 9 months, demand decreased by 14.4%. Together with him, Smart Forfour, which showed good growth in the first half of the year, sank - it seems that dealers have sold out the last cars.

The segment is saved from complete failure only by growing sales of the two-door Smart Fortwo: 43 units in September-2019, which is twice as much as a year ago, and 385 units from January to September - 2.5 times higher than last year's result.

In total, demand for Smart cars in September rose by 19%, and in 9 months - by almost 94%.

But if at the end of 8 months the segment maintained positive dynamics (plus 3.8%), then by the end of September sales of subcompact cars turned out to be worse than last year: 3.76 thousand registered cars and minus 0.7%.

Compact cars (B, B + -class)

The demand for cars from one of the most popular segments in Russia in September decreased not as much as the market as a whole: minus 8% and 46.3 thousand registered cars. At the same time, the segment's share increased to 37.3% (plus 1.5 points).

The demand for the main Russian bestseller - LadGrant - increased by 72.4%, a record for itself and for the segment. The sharp jump is explained by the fact that sales of new Grants just started in September 2018 and this created the effect of a low base. In addition, over the year, the model family has been replenished with two modifications: a cross-version and a "semi-sport" modification of the Drive Active.

Besides Grants, Renault Logan and Mini show excellent dynamics in the top 15. Datsun On-Do and SkodRapid have the worst dynamics, and for the Czech liftback this is the strongest drop in the year.

In September, 13 Ravon vehicles were also registered: in the summer, the automaker certified its models on the Russian market and began sales at the end of August. However, you should not expect a quick return of high sales volumes: there is a wide choice in the segment of budget cars today, and the brand will have to re-earn its reputation.

For the first time since the beginning of the year, the demand for LadVesta family cars has dropped. Together with this, the model for the first time lost the second line of the rating of the Korean model KiRio. However, according to the results of nine months, the flagship of Lada is sold better than Rio: almost 80 thousand West (plus 5.8%) against 64.9 thousand Rio (minus 7.6%).

In total, from January to September 2019, 429.9 thousand new cars of segments "B" and "B +" were registered in the traffic police - 2.3% less than a year ago. The segment's share increased to 38.1% - plus 0.2 points.

Medium cars (C-class)

In September, the demand for Golf-class cars dropped by 35% at once - this is the strongest drop in the segment in 2019! Less than 6 thousand cars were registered in the traffic police. The segment's share decreased to 4.8% (minus 1.7 points).

The leader of the rating - Octavi- managed to keep the sales at the last year's level. In September 2019, only five Octavias were registered less than a year earlier, and in 9 months - 24 units more (plus 0.2%).

The only mass-brand model that consistently adds throughout the year is the KiCerato sedan: 36.6 percent growth in September and 31.3 percent in nine months. For the second month in a row, the sedan outstrips even the KiCeed platform family in sales. However, in total for 9 months, the hatchback, liftback Proceed and the Ceed SW station wagon still retain the second line of the rating: 11.4 thousand cars, but minus 23%.

Absolutely the best dynamics - the Mercedes-Benz CLA-class. The second generation of the model is in good demand: from January to September 2019, 1.2 thousand new CLAs appeared on the roads, almost 2.5 times more than a year ago. In general, the demand for models of premium brands in September increased by a quarter, and in 9 months - by 44%.

Mazda3 has the worst dynamics among popular models: minus 82% and only 41 registered "Treshka". It is possible that buyers are scared off by the high price of the model. In addition, until October 2019 in Russia, the model was presented only in the form of a hatchback, and the sedan entered the market quite recently - perhaps this will increase sales. In general, for 9 months the demand for Mazda3 fell by almost half (734 cars).

For 9 months of 2019, about 60 thousand Golf-class cars were registered in the traffic police - 22% less than a year earlier. The segment's share decreased to 5.3% - minus 1.3 points.

Large cars (D-class)

In September 2019, the traffic police registered 7.5 thousand class "D" cars - 11.1% less than a year ago. The segment's share in the total volume remained at the level of 6%.

For the first time in 2019, ToyotCamry lost leadership to the Korean KiOptima sedan, but the difference is less than 200 cars, which did not affect the position in 9 months. From January to September, 24.3 thousand owners (plus 13.1%) chose "Camry", 18.2 thousand people preferred "Optima" (plus 23.1%). This pair of models accounts for 64% of sales of the entire segment.

For the second month in a row, Geely Emgrand has absolutely the best dynamics in the segment: thanks to the appearance of an updated version of the model in Russia, the demand for the model has increased by 170%. Sales of the Chinese sedan have tripled in 9 months. An anti-record in the top 20 belongs to the BMW 3 Series GT (minus 74.3%) and the Ford Mondeo family that has almost left the Russian market (minus 79.3%).

Premium brands in the segment sank 13.8%: only 947 cars were registered in September. Following the results of nine months, the dynamics turned out to be much more positive: plus 16.2% and 10.1 thousand cars.

From January to September, three models recorded a drop in sales in the top 10: KiStinger (minus 3.3%, 1.1 thousand units), Mazd6 (minus 11.6%, 3.8 thousand cars) and Volkswagen Passat (minus 29, 5% and 1.3 thousand pieces).

According to the results of nine months, the segment “D” shows an increase of 9.2%. From January to September, 66.8 thousand cars were registered. The segment takes 5.9% of the total market (plus 0.6 points).

Business class (E-class)

In September, the demand for business class cars was only slightly higher than a year earlier - plus 0.7%. The traffic police registered only 12 more cars - 1.7 thousand units.

Thanks to the low base effect, the Volvo S90 saw a record rise in demand. But among the more massive models, the best dynamics was once again shown by the Lexus ES: plus 44.1% in September and 75% in nine months. Jaguar XF and Volvo V90 have the strongest monthly drop: minus 41.2% and minus 59.5%, respectively. According to the results of nine months, in the top five leaders, only the demand for Audi A6 fell: minus 77.3%.

From January to September 2019, sales of business class cars sank 3.9%. For 9 months, 15.4 thousand new cars were registered in absolute terms.

Luxury cars (F-class)

In September, 334 cars were registered, which is a quarter less than a year earlier. This is a new anti-record for the class in 2019. In September, the number of registered luxury cars decreased by 23.1%.

The demand for BMW 7 Series, which fell by a third, had a strong impact on the dynamics: this is the strongest drop in 9 months. The leader - Mercedes-Benz S-class - almost kept last year's figure, in contrast to its luxury version Maybach, which lost half of its customers. These three models occupy about 65% of the segment, so the change in demand for them noticeably affects the dynamics of the class as a whole.

Only two models of the segment managed to show positive dynamics: Bentley Continental GT and Genesis G90. However, for the "Briton" the increase of 12% is an indecently small figure, since in the last few months the model boasted three-digit growth, and by the end of the year the demand for it jumped 5.5 times! But, unfortunately, the sales of both models are very small in the context of the segment and are not able to have any influence on the overall picture.

Lexus LS has yet another anti-record: only 5 people were registered with the flagship sedan in September - 77.3% less than a year ago. For 9 months, the demand for the model sank by 45%.

Ki dealers continue to get rid of Quoris warehouse leftovers: 50 sedans were registered in the traffic police in 9 months. Official sales of the model stopped even on the eve of the release of the K900.

In September, 3 Ferrari, 3 Lamborghini and 8 Rolls-Royce were registered with the traffic police taking into account crossovers.

Following the results of nine months, 3.5 thousand luxury cars appeared on the roads of the country, which is 13.4% less than a year earlier.

Pickup trucks

Demand for pickups continues to decline for the second month in a row: minus 12.1%. 794 new cars are registered in the traffic police.

After a serious fall in August (minus 10.5%) and the loss of leadership in the segment, the Russian UAZ pickup truck managed to return to the first line and grow its audience. However, the positive result of September did not significantly affect the results for 9 months: from January to September, 2,300 UAZ pickups were registered, which is 10.6% worse than a year ago.

Pickup lovers are showing interest in models that are not officially sold in Russia and are imported “individually”. And among the "official" models, the best growth is in the Isuzu D-Max. From January to September, the model was registered with 192 owners - 134% more than last year's result.

From January to September, the traffic police registered 10.7% fewer pickups than a year ago: 6.9 thousand units.

Crossovers and SUVs

The demand for crossovers and SUVs in September fell along with the market: minus 11.8% and 55.6 thousand registered cars. Nevertheless, their share remained at 44.9%.

The undisputed leader of the segment - Hyundai Cret - in September with difficulty kept the sales at last year's level: 5.8 thousand cars and only plus 0.3% to last year's result. According to the results of nine months, the dynamics are slightly better: plus 4.3% and almost 50 thousand registered cars.

In the top 20 of the SUV segment, the highest growth in September was marked by the Volkswagen Tiguan: plus 11.5% and 3 thousand cars. Rav4 has an anti-record: minus 53.3% and 1.8 thousand cars. This is also the strongest drop in demand for the Japanese crossover this year, but it is probably caused by the imminent entry into the Russian market of a new generation of this model, the first copies of which were sold in October. The production of the previous model at the Toyot plant in St. Petersburg has ended; the enterprise has re-equipped the crossover assembly line for the release of a new model.

Representatives of mass brands sank by 14.5%: 43.1 thousand cars were registered in September. From January to September, the dynamics are better: minus 1.8% and 394.4 thousand registered cars. The newcomer of the segment - Renault Arkan - was chosen by 1.4 thousand people, this is the 15th place in the rating. Another breakthrough is at SkodKodiaq: with the result of 2.1 thousand cars in September, the model climbed to the fifth line for the first time.

For Chinese brands, September ended with a steady growth: 14.3% and 2.6 thousand registered cars. The novelty of the Russian market, the Haval F7, continues to gain momentum: 305 crossovers were registered in September, and almost a thousand since June, when production started. The segment leaders - Geely Atlas and Haval H6 - sold 537 (plus 80%) and 493 (plus 247%) units, respectively. The younger Haval H2 also showed strong growth: sales increased 3.5 times. In just 9 months of 2019, 19.9 thousand crossovers of Chinese brands were registered in the traffic police, which is 7.3% more than a year earlier.

The demand for Japanese crossovers and SUVs fell more than the segment as a whole: minus 15.9% and 18 thousand cars. In the top 25 "Japanese", the strongest fall is again at ToyotRav4. On the reverse side - Suzuki Jimny, which appeared on the Russian market only in August and for the second month in a row sets a record: in September 187 people bought it (five and a half times more than a year ago). For 9 months sales of crossovers of Japanese brands fell by 4.4% (158 thousand cars).

Almost all models of premium brands dropped by 5.4%: 8.6 thousand registered cars. The absolute majority of the rating participants showed negative dynamics. Positive dynamics was recorded only in 8 models: BMW X3 (plus 26.6%), Land Rover Range Rover Sport (plus 10.6%), Mercedes-Benz G- and GLA-classes, as well as GLC coupe (plus 193, 77 and 39% respectively), Mini Countryman JCW (plus 87.5%) and a pair of Volvo - XC40 (4.2%) and XC60 (16.1%). According to the results of sales from January to September, premium crossovers and SUVs kept last year's sales level - 71.6 thousand units.

At the end of nine months, half of the top 10 models failed to maintain positive dynamics: demand fell for Lad4x4 (minus 1.6%), KiSportage (minus 0.6%), Renault Duster (minus 5.7%) and Kaptur (minus 3 %), ToyotRav4 (minus 5.5%). SkodKodiaq has the best dynamics: plus 77.7%.

From January to September, the number of registered crossovers and SUVs decreased by only 1.5%: 495 thousand cars were registered. However, their share in the total volume increased to 43.8% (plus 0.4 points).