November Numbers Boost Russian Sales Forecast

The Russian auto industry raises its prediction of full-year sales to 2.6 million units after another strong rise in November.

The Association of European Businesses’ Automobile Manufacturers Committee says the 26% increase to 239, 539 units in November boosts 11-month delivery totals 41% to 2,402,043.

Nine of the 10 best-selling passenger cars through November are locally produced.

Committee Chairman David Thomas says the November increase and prospects for December indicate full-year deliveries of cars and light-commercial vehicles exceeds the previous forecast of 2.55 million.

“This will mean that for the full year the total industry volume will increase by nearly 37% compared to 2010,” Thomas says in a statement.

“However, we do not at this stage see any cause to revise upwards our initial forecast for 2012 of 2.8 million cars and light-commercial vehicles, though this will lead to a much lower year-to-year growth of less than 8%.”

The AEB will release 2011 sales results and predictions for 2012 on Jan. 12.

The organization’s latest data shows Lada as November’s leading brand in Russia, even though sales slipped 17% to 42,028 units, leaving its 11-month total up 13% to 535,215. Lada placed five models in the list of top-10 sellers.

Chevrolet boosted deliveries 22% last month to 15,031 units, up 51% to 157,064 through November.

Hyundai took third place in November as sales surged 103% to 17,283 units, for an 11-month total climbing 89% to 145,981.

Ford finished the month in eighth place with deliveries up 27% to 11,115 units, climbing  49% to 104,831 year-to-date.

The AvtoVAZ-Renault-Nissan group saw November sales creep up 2% to 72,253 units, but its 11-month total rose 27% to 803,786.

Deliveries by the General Motors group of Opel, Chevrolet and Cadillac posted a 19% improvement to 21,383 units last month and a 57% year-to-date increase to 220,346.

Volkswagen sales soared 92% to 24,340 units last month and grew 72% to 202,942 units through November.