Russia’s June, H1 Sales Totals Highest in Four Years

Russian new-vehicle sales climbed 10% in June, compared with like-2011, to 272,175 units, the month’s highest level in four years, raising the first-half total 14% to 1,413,769.

Releasing the latest results, the Association of European Businesses says the first six months’ result also was a 4-year high.

“At the same time, we continue to observe a slowdown in the pace of growth, year-on-year as well as compared to preceding months,” Acting Chairman Joerg Schreiber of the association’s Automobile Manufacturers Committee says in a statement.

“We anticipate seeing some more consolidation in the second half of the year, as the market stays comfortably on track to achieve full-year sales in excess of 2.8 million.”

Lada remained Russia’s market leader, even though the domestic brand’s June sales dropped 18% to 45,032 units for a 6-month total down 14% to 250,732.

Second-place Renault saw its June sales jump 31% to 19,859 units for a 6-month total up 29% to 95,579. Chevrolet deliveries increased 15% to 20,746, raising its year-to-date total 17% to 95,534.

Ford held ninth place at the year’s halfway point, with sales up 18% to 63,350 units after slipping 1% to 12,699 in June.

The AvtoVAZ-Renault-Nissan alliance dominated the Russian market, despite a 2% slip in June deliveries to 79,115 units and first-half sales off 1% to 430,693.

Volkswagen Group remained a distant second despite a 58% spike in 6-month sales to 152,466 units, helped by last month’s increase of 37% to 30,016.

General Motors followed with a first-half result up 21% to 136,369 units after its June sales gained 15% to 28,532.

Along with Chevrolet, Opel was a contributor to GM’s growth with an 18% improvement to 7,588 units last month for a 6-month total up 31% to 39,652. Cadillac deliveries fell 24% in June to 198, giving it a year-to-date result down 3% to 1,183.

The Lada Kalina was the top-selling model in the first half, even though deliveries fell 7% to 67,526 units. The Lada Priora was second at 59,541, down 13%.

The Hyundai Solaris was a narrow third, with first-half sales surging 44% to 58,020 units, ahead of the Ford Focus, improving 18% to 45,231. The Chevrolet Niva was No.10 after 6-month deliveries improved 30% to 29,805.