The car market appreciated the intrigue – Kommersant FM

Premium Chinese cars may become more expensive starting next week, say market participants interviewed by Kommersant FM. This time, the reasons are not exchange rate differences and recycling rates. On October 1, restrictions may be introduced on parallel imports of cars. Such headlines were published by specialized media throughout September. But, as Kommersant FM found out, this Sunday the edition of government decree number 855 expires. This document allowed the wholesale import through parallel channels of cars of those brands that are officially represented in Russia. In the meantime, there is no extension, there is an intrigue in the market about what will happen in the new edition. And will she? Which cars may fall off the parallel import list? And how will this affect prices? Aelita Kurmukova found out.

Restrictions may affect those who are officially represented in Russia. And this is the Chinese auto industry. Or rather, their premium line, which is imported by both dealers and parallel suppliers. This scheme was introduced in the spring of 2022 to avoid a shortage of cars and spare parts. The document, abbreviated ZOETS, allowed importers to import cars without the permission of the copyright holder.

This is how, for example, Geely Monjaro, Hongqi E-HS9 and Voyah Free appeared on the market from the dealers themselves and parallel suppliers. And these models are cheaper from unofficial ones. The difference is from 300 thousand rubles. up to 1 million rubles, but without guarantees. And clients also had a choice of other brands that did not officially enter Russia, fearing secondary sanctions. Now it may not exist, does not rule out the vice-president of the National Automobile Union, Jan Heizer:

“A large number of Chinese cars, which came in small quantities through small companies, will not be imported to the legal entity. The bad thing is that VAT will not be counted against, and it will be unprofitable for legal entities to purchase these cars. Or for cars that will not be supplied, the price will increase – by at least 20% – because everything will be done through private individuals.”

But over the past year, cars have already become more expensive by 1 million rubles. And only in August the price increase was 10%, as calculated by Autostat. The weighted average price of a passenger car is now 3.3 million rubles. A couple of years ago, for this money you could take the comfort class of the German troika. And car loans without insurance start from 20% per annum and reach 40%. So now is not the time for new restrictions, notes the head of the Parallel Import Association, Anatoly Semenov:

“October 1 has not yet arrived – the intrigue is being kept until the last. I am inclined to believe that parallel imports will continue to be allowed. If we recall the comment of Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, everyone doubts that Russian manufacturers are able to provide a sufficient quantity and range, so no one will actually limit the import of Chinese or any other cars. There will be elections soon, before which I think no one will make any unpopular decisions.”

Parallel imports give motorists at least some choice. It may be more expensive, but in addition to AvtoVAZ and Chinese folk cars, Japanese, Korean, American cars and the “German troika” are still imported into Russia, which have officially left the market. These brands can be supplied through parallel import channels until February 1, 2024. What will happen next is the main intrigue, answers the general director of the Automarketer company, Oleg Moseev:

“In August, officially imported cars amounted to 104 thousand. Parallel imports amounted to 15 thousand – that is, 13% of the market. Toyota is in first place, KIA is in second. Hyundai, BMW – almost 1 thousand cars, Mercedes-Benz – 725 cars, Lexus – 612. This volume is now under attack. First of all, this is aimed specifically at Chinese colleagues. How willing will they be to invest in production here, provided that we create greenhouse conditions for them, closing off competition?”

But even if we imagine that parallel imports will still be closed to legal entities, lobbying someone’s interests, it will still be possible to import any car into Russia, a representative of the Avtodom company said in an interview with Kommersant FM, but through private individuals. And this will already be a business of outbids.

Cars have already become almost a luxury. And this is not the limit. The Association of Russian Automobile Dealers does not rule out that by winter cars will still increase in price and in annual terms the price increase will be 30%.

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