Car Sales in Russia Continue to Crash

Sales of passenger cars and light trucks in Russia dropped 20% to 197,200 units last month compared with results in September 2013, according to the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses.

Lada Niva

The market shrank 13% to 1.78 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year.

Year-on-year volumes fell for Russia's 13 top-selling brands in September. The list is headed by Lada (-9% to 36,500 units), Renault (-11% to 15,400), Hyundai (-10% to15,400), Kia (-19% to 14,500) and Toyota (-5% to 13,100).

AEB notes that September sales improved from August. But the group predicts more contraction in the fourth quarter. It now expects full-year market volume of 2.45 million units, down from 2.77 million units in 2013.