Russia New-Vehicle Sales Jump 17.9% in September

Russian new-vehicle sales accelerated in September, leading the industry to boost its full-year forecast to 1.58 million units, 10.8% above 2016.

The Association of European Businesses Automobile Manufacturers Committee says the month saw deliveries accelerate 17.9% to 148,371 units.

This left the year-to-date total up 10.6% at 1,129,374 units.

Committee Chairman Joerg Schreiber calls September another good month for the recovering Russian car market.

“Quarterly sales in the period from July through September grew by a robust 17.7% compared to last year, and in absolute terms equalizing the sales volume of 410,000 units achieved in the same quarter two years ago,” he says in a statement.

“Market sentiment is strong that the positive trend will continue in the coming months.”

Lada beat the industry growth, rising 24% in September to 28,263 units and a 9-month total ahead 17% at 221,207.

Kia soared 40% to 18,797 units to put it up 27% year-to-date at 135,225 units. Hyundai followed, up 12% at 15,899 units. With three months of the year left, Hyundai was up 11% at 111,885 units.

Ford ended the month in 10^th place, up 33% at 4,663 units. It was up 13% after nine months, at 34,896 units.

Chevrolet, in 14^th place, rose 37% to 2,574 units in September, giving it a 3% year-to-date increase at 22,780.

Kia’s Rio was the top-selling model last month, up 30.3% at 10,446 units, ahead of Lada’s Granta, up 16.4% at 9,098 and Lada’s Vesta, ahead 56.8% at 6,861.

Year-to-date, Rio led the market, up 18.1% at 73,532 units, with the Granta ahead 6.4% at 67,792 and the Vesta up 60.0% at 54,641.

Chevrolet’s Niva finished the month in 14^th place, up 37.2% with 2,509 deliveries, good enough for 10^th place year-to-date, ahead 2.0% at 22,123 units.