Light-Vehicle Sales Drop 11% in Russia

Deliveries of cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia sagged 11% to 125,600 units, the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses reports. Sales through the first nine months of 2015 reached 1.02 million units, down 14% from the same period last year.

AEB predicts little change in the sales pace through the final quarter of 2016 unless the government signals an end to state-sponsored incentives. If that happens, the group says, consumers may accelerate their purchase decision.

There were bright spots in the September results. Sales by market leader Lada rose 5% to 22,800 units. Other top sellers reporting volume gains were Renault (+1% to 10,500 units), Toyota (+18% to 8,400) and Volkswagen (+3% to 7,000).

But those increases were offset by slumping demand for Hyundai (-6% to 14,200 cars) and its Kia affiliate (-17% to 13,400). Among U.S. brands, September sales dropped for Ford (-27% to 3,500 units), Chevrolet (-56% to 1,900) and Jeep (-26% to 100).