September Vehicle Sales in Russia Climb 18%

Passenger car and light commercial vehicle sales in Russia zoomed to 148,400 units in September from 125,800 vehicles in the same month last year, the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses reports.

The 18% gain compares with 17% growth in August and marks the seventh consecutive month of strong year-on-year increases. The revival comes after three years of shrinkage that saw annual sales plunge from a record 2.94 million units in 2012 to 1.02 million last year.

AEB now predicts full-year sales in 2017 will climb 11% to 1.58 million vehicles.

The Russian market’s big-four sellers all posted double-digit increases in September. Sales climbed for Lada (+24% to 28,400 units), Kia (+40% to 18,800), Hyundai (+12% to 15,900) and Renault (+22% to 12,700).

Among major mass-market brands, only Toyota reported a decline. Its sales fell 10% to 7,600 units last month, according to AEB.