Car Sales in Russia End 8-Month Losing Streak

Sales of cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia totaled 157,100 units last month, virtually unchanged from September 2018.

Results ended eight consecutive months of year-on-year shrinkage, according to the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses.

Sales by the market’s top four sellers were led by Renault, whose deliveries jumped 28% to 13,300 vehicles. Volume rose 1% each for Lada (to 31,500 units) and Kia (to 19,200). Hyundai’s sales in September were flat at 16,100.

Registrations through the first nine months of 2019 fell 2% to 1.27 million vehicles. AEB predicts full-year sales will total 1.76 million units compared with 1.80 million in 2018.