November Sales Flat, But Russian 2012 Forecast Up 9.3%

Full-year new-vehicle sales in Russia are forecast to total 2.9 million units, up 9.3% from 2,653,408 last year – after edging fractionally higher in November.

The Association of European Businesses Automobile Manufacturers Committee says last month’s deliveries of 240,322 units were up just 930 units from prior-year’s 239,392.

That boosted 11-month sales to 2,681,985 units, up 12% from year-ago’s 2,402,112.

Committee Chairman Joerg Schreiber says November’s result shows that for the first time in more than two years the Russian car market is not growing.

“The present situation in dealer showrooms across the country is such that we do not expect a quick return to growth in the coming months,” Schreiber, president and managing director of Mazda Motor Russia, says in a statement.

“Customer activity and purchase appetite in recent months have been weaker than last year, and rather sooner than later this will show in market sales performance.”

Market leader Lada saw last month’s sales rise 7% to 45,107 units, but the local brand slipped 8% for the year to 494,271.

Chevrolet followed, with November deliveries climbing 10% to 16,509 units. Its year-to-date sales advanced 20% to 189,227. Third-place Renault saw a 17% sales gain to 17,177, giving it an 11-month total up 23% to 172,610.

Ford remained solidly in ninth place despite a basically unchanged result in November, with deliveries of 11,131 units, down 24 from prior-year’s 11,155. After 11 months, the auto maker’s deliveries improved 11% to 116,648.

The AvtoVAZ-Renault-Nissan alliance continued as the runaway market leader among auto maker groups, with November sales increasing 2% to 73,807 units for an 11-month total ahead 2% to 817,390.

Volkswagen Group followed, as deliveries climbed 13% last month to 27,618 units for a year-to-date result jumping 42% to 288,603.

The General Motors group held third place in November, up 6% to 22,507 units for an 11-month total up 20% to 264,552.

GM’s Opel unit saw deliveries fall 4% for the month to 5,887 units to give it a year-to-date total up 21% to 73,449. Cadillac climbed 152% to 111 units but was off 16% for the year to 1,876.

Three Lada nameplates – Priora, Kalina and Granta – led model sales, with the Ford Focus in fifth place following a 10% decline in November to 7,325 units for an 11-month total up 12% to 82,388.

The Chevrolet Cruze was in ninth place, with sales for the month surging 71% to 5,687 units and matching its 71% year-to-date growth rate to 57,999.