Russia New-Vehicle Market Comeback Remains Fragile

The Russian new-vehicle sales revival continued in April, with deliveries rising 6.9% year-on-year to 129,476 units.

The Association of European Businesses Automobile Manufacturers Committee says the result left the year-to-date total up 2.98% at 451,945.

Committee Chairman Joerg Schreiber says while April deliveries increased year-on-year, at the same time they fell short of the volume achieved in March.

“We are not dealing with a healthy seasonality yet, which reminds us of how fragile the current cautious recovery still is,” Schreiber says in a statement. “Nevertheless, the April sales result is another step forward in the right direction.”

Lada topped the market with April deliveries rising 6.8% to 26,337 units for a 4-month total up 7.7% at 87,784. Kia followed, jumping 32.1% to 16,003 units in April and 18.5% year-to-date to 53,313.

Hyundai rounded out the top three, with sales gaining 11.9% to 13,655 in April and 5.3% to 43,960 units for the first four months.

Ford moved up to the bottom rung of the top 10, climbing 6.8% year-on-year to 4,049 units. The result just missed pushing the blue oval into the black after four months, with sales down 65 units from year-ago to 13,429.

Chevrolet finished in 13th place for the month, as sales rose 2.4% to 2,989 units.

The Kia Rio was the best-selling model for the month, climbing 30.5% to 8,942 units. Lada’s Granta held on to second place despite a 14.8% volume drop in April to 8,419 units.