More than 1 million passenger cars were sold in Russia in 2023

In 2023, 1.06 million passenger cars were sold in the Russian Federation. This is 69% more than at the peak of the crisis in 2022, but still far from 2021 volumes. Lada was the most sold vehicle in the Russian Federation last year, accounting for more than 30% of sales. But the most active growth dynamics were shown by Chinese brands, including Chery, Haval, Geely.

Sales of passenger cars in the Russian Federation in 2023 increased by 69%, to 1.059 million units, Avtostat estimated based on data from JSC PPK (JV of Electronic Passport and the agency) and taking into account its own segmentation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade estimated, based on PPK data, that the passenger car market grew by 62%, to 1.056 thousand cars, and in total 1.31 million cars of all segments were sold in the Russian Federation. This coincides with estimateswhich were given to Kommersant by analysts in early December.

Moreover, in December alone, Autostat reports, 119.45 thousand cars were sold, which is 2.1 times more than a year earlier. The month turned out to be significantly better than November, when 109.7 thousand cars were sold, and demand decreased in monthly terms against the backdrop of an increase in the Central Bank rate and high car prices. Pre-New Year benefit programs in 2023 were not significantly more attractive than usual, but this did not stop demand from warming up towards the end of December.

According to Autostat, more than 30% of sales in 2023 were from the domestic Lada brand – its sales increased by 85.7%, to 324.4 thousand units.

The most popular foreign car was Chery (sales tripled, to 118.95 thousand units). Sales of Haval cars increased by 3.3 times, to 111.7 thousand units, Geely – by 3.5 times, to 93.55 thousand units, Changan – by 18.7 times, to 47.8 thousand units.

Before the crisis, 1.54 million passenger cars were sold in the Russian Federation in 2021 – now the market volume is still 31% lower. In 2024, analysts estimate that the market will still not reach 2021 volume. Overall, sales forecasts suggest a market of 1.15-1.2 million units. Despite this, market leader AvtoVAZ plans to produce at least 500 thousand Lada cars in 2024, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov reported in December. This rather optimistic forecast suggests that Lada will be able to take market share from Chinese cars.

Olga Nikitina