Russia Sales Rise 15% in June, Up 6.9% in First Half

With sales accelerating, the Russian new-vehicle industry saw a first-half result up 6.9% year-on-year at 718,529 units.

Data from the Association of European Businesses automobile manufacturers committee shows the half ended with a June result up a healthy 15% at 141,084 units.

Committee Chairman Joerg Schreiber says the market is recovering at a robust pace.

“Growth rates of 15% in the month of June and 12% in the second quarter almost make us forget the slow start into the year,” Schreiber says in a statement.

“Cumulative sales in the period from January to June exceed last year’s result by 6%, very close to our initial forecast for the full-year 2017 which we are maintaining for the time being.”

Lada deliveries rose 23% in June to 27,396 units to maintain its dominating market lead. Kia followed, up 31% at 16,755 units, ahead of Hyundai, up 22% at 14,673.

Despite tense relations between Moscow and Washington, Ford saw a 24% gain to 4,557 units for 10^th place. Chevrolet fell 12% to 2,574 units.

Lada’s first-half sales rose 13% to 140,231 units, ahead of Kia, up 22% at 85,189, and Hyundai, ahead 10% at 70,588.

Ford’s 6-month result was up 6% at 21,907 units, while Chevrolet edged ahead 1% at 14,889.

Lada’s Granta was the country’s top-selling model in June, up 18.5% from year-ago at 8,552 units. Kia’s Rio followed, down 6.7% at 8,032 units, with Hyundai’s Solaris third after slipping 13.7% to 7,485.

Chevy’s Niva was the best-selling American model last month, in 18^th place and down 13.2% at 2,488 units.

The Rio was the best-selling model in the year’s first half, up 16% at 46,159 units, with the Granta down 4.5% at 41,996, and Lada’s Vesta in third after jumping 51.1% to 34,595.

The Niva was in 10^th place, down 104 units at 14,436.