Russia’s December Car Sales Jump 14%

Demand for cars and light-duty commercial vehicles in Russia climbed 14% to 166,000 units in December, according to the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses.

Full-year registrations of new vehicles climbed 12% to 1.60 million units, reversing an 11% drop in 2016 and ending a four-year slump.

Sales in 2017 by market leader Lada rose 17% to 311,600 units. Last year’s biggest gains among the other largest brands were posted by Kia (+22% to 181,900 units, Volkswagen (+21% to 89,500) and Ford (+18% to 50,400).

Among the largest increases for smaller-volume marques in 2017 were Mazda (+20% to 25,900 units), Datsun (+31% to 24,500), Mitsubishi (+45% to 24,300), Volvo (+26% to 7,000) and Chery (+24% to 5,900).

AEB made no forecast about sales this year. The trade group notes that the Russian market still has a long way to go to match its record high volume of 2.94 million vehicles sold in 2012.​​​