Russian February Sales Beat Industry Forecast

Russia’s new-vehicle market remains strong, with February sales up 25% to 206,873 units, leaving the 2-month total ahead 23% to 206,873.

Association of European Businesses Automobile Manufacturers Committee Chairman David Thomas says the encouraging start to 2012 continues.

“A 23% year-to-date increase is better than anticipated in the last AMC forecast, but as the first two months in the Russian market are subject to vacations and the impact of closing stocks, it is too early to revise our full-year view of 2.8 million passenger cars and light-commercial vehicles,” Thomas says in a statement.

“Once we have the March results, we will have a clearer picture of the overall market trend.”

All of the 10 best-selling passenger-car models are produced in Russia.

Lada topped February deliveries, despite a 6% drop to 36,761 units for a 2-month total down 13% to 65,795.

Nissan was a distant second, although February sales climbed 36% to 14,232 units and the year-to-date total jumped 44% to 25,012. Hyundai was close behind, outselling Nissan last month on the strength of a 55% surge to 14,703 units for a 2-month total of 24,911, up 66% from year-ago.

Chevrolet ranked sixth, with February deliveries rising 34% to 13,096 units and a year-to-date total improving 34% to 22,823. The Niva was in 10^th place with a 34% sales gain in the month to 4,785 and a 2-month total up 40% to 8,489.

The GM Group of Chevrolet, Opel and Cadillac saw a 38% surge in February deliveries to 19,340 units, for a year-to-date total up 37% to 33,602.

Ninth-place Ford boosted sales 39% in February to 9,211 units for a 2-month total up 53% to 15,752. The Ford Focus was the fourth-best-selling model for the month with sales climbing 35% to 6,577 units and the 2-month total spiking 57% to 11,610 units.