Automobiles sales drop sharply in Russia
(MENAFN) New car sales in Russia fell sharply in the first half of 2025, totaling 607,500 units — a 28% drop compared to the same period last year, according to data released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The downturn follows a period of strong growth in 2024.
Sales of domestically manufactured vehicles reached 333,300 units, representing an 11% decline year-on-year. Passenger car sales fell 26% to 526,700 units, while light commercial vehicles (LCVs) dropped 19% to 48,800 units. Truck and bus sales saw the steepest declines, falling 54% to 27,000 and 4,900 units, respectively.
In June alone, overall vehicle sales fell 31% year-on-year to just under 101,000 units, marking a 2% decrease from May. Passenger car sales for the month totaled 89,600 units, down 27% from the previous year and 1% from May. LCV sales dropped 32% year-on-year to 7,100 units, 7% lower than the prior month. Truck sales sank to 3,600 units, a 66% decrease from June 2024 and down 3% from May. Bus sales came in at 663 units, down 58% year-on-year and 6% month-on-month.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales totaled nearly 4,800 units in the first half of the year, down 57% from 2024. Domestic EVs made up 23% of that figure, up from 18% a year ago. June saw sales of 44,700 imported vehicles, down 45% year-on-year, while Russian-made car sales fell 12.5% to 56,200 units.
Russia’s auto market rebounded strongly in 2024, with annual sales up 39% to 1.84 million units, driven by a 47% surge in passenger car sales and solid gains in LCVs and buses. Domestic brands led this recovery, reporting a 28% sales increase.
However, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov recently noted that although the domestic auto industry grew 35% last year thanks to government incentives, rising interest rates and tighter loan conditions have triggered a significant contraction over the past five months. He added that the government plans to expand subsidies and support measures to prevent the market from shrinking by more than 40%.
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