The Russian light vehicle market continued to post strong year-on-year sales growth in September. A total of 259,582 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were sold in the country last month, 10% more than the 235,730 units sold in September 2011.
Light vehicle sales in September also improved month-on-month, compared with the 258,761 vehicles sold in August this year, according to figures published by the Association of European Businesses Automobile Manufactures Committee (AEB AMC).
“The hot phase of fast year-on-year growth in Russia is over, for now. On the backdrop of the situation in the rest of Europe, however, a 10% increase in sales is a very respectable result,” said Joerg Schreiber, Chairman of AEB AMC.
Increased sales at Renault and Nissan offset declining numbers at AvtoVAZ and Infiniti last month. In all, the group reported sales of 78,473 units, up 3% from the 76,121 units sold in the same month a year earlier. This gave AvtoVAZ/Renault-Nissan the lead in Russia’s light vehicle market last month.
Russian Technologies and Renault-Nissan will, in December 2012, sign a legally binding agreement that will see the joint venture consolidate 75% of AvtoVAZ. Renault-Nissan’s stake in the Russian OEM will rise to 50% plus one share. Russian Technologies will hold 25% plus one share.
Volkswagen Group, which came second overall, accounted for sales of 27,739 units, an increase of 28% from the 21,681 light vehicles sold in September 2011. Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT and Skoda brands all grew year-on-year.
Sales growth at Opel and Chevrolet offset declining numbers at Cadillac to result in an overall increase of 18% at General Motors. The Detroit-based OEM posted sales of 25,048 vehicles last month, up from 21,206 units a year ago.
Kia’s sales last month shot up 38% to 16,544 units, while Hyundai managed 15,221 units, a drop of 1% from a year earlier. Toyota followed with sales totalling 14,296 units, including both Toyota and Lexus brands, an improvement of 27% from a year ago.
In early-September, the Japanese OEM officially launched a second production shift at its plant in St Petersburg, Russia. In this regard, the OEM has hired 600 new workers, taking the plant’s total workforce to 1,750 people.
By brand, AvtoVAZ continued to lead, selling 50,168 units (-1%), followed by Chevrolet with 18,497 units (+21%) and Kia, which accounted for sales of 16,544 units (+38%).
AvtoVAZ brand Lada sold 14,050 units of the Granta, which was the bestselling vehicle model in Russia last month. The brand’s Priora came second, selling 11,609 units (-15%), while the Kalina managed third place, accounting for sales of 9,315 vehicles (-23%).
