Auto Sales Rise 10% in Russia

Carmakers sold 272,100 new passenger and commercial vehicles in Russia last month compared with 246,800 units in June 2011, according to the Moscow-based Assn. or European Businesses. June marked the highest sales of any month since July 2008.

Among the major brands, market-leader Lada posted the only large decline: an 18% drop to 45,000 vehicles. Gainers included Chevrolet (15% to 20,700 units), Renault (31% to 19,900 units), Kia (19% to 17,300 units), Volkswagen (41% to 15,700 units), Nissan (38% to 13,700 units) and Toyota (91% to 14,100 units). Volume fell 1% at Hyundai and Ford to 16,100 units and 12,700 units, respectively.

In the January-June period, sales climbed 14% year over year to 1.4 million vehicles, the strongest first-half gain in four years. Lada slid 14%, but the rest of the top 10 brands posted double-digit gains.

Six of the 10 best-selling models in the six-month period were made by foreign brands, including the Hyundai Solaris, Ford Focus, Kia Rio, Renault Logan, Volkswagen Polo and Chevrolet Niva.

Despite the year's strong start, AEB is standing by its outlook for about an 8% increase in full-year sales to more than 2.8 million vehicles. The group expects demand to soften slightly in the second half.