Chinese automakers dominate Russian market with 61% share
Chinese automotive companies have taken a commanding lead in the Russian market, with 6 out of every 10 cars sold in the country now originating from China. Chinese manufacturers quickly moved to fill the void left by European and American companies that withdrew after Russia's aggression against Ukraine, reports Rzeczpospolita.
The Russian automotive market has experienced a dramatic transformation over the past two years. After the invasion of Ukraine, leading corporations from Europe, Japan, Korea, and the USA exited the market, paving the way for Chinese producers. Currently, a notable 61% of cars sold in Russia come from China. In comparison, Chinese vehicles made up only 18% of the Russian market in 2022, according to Rzeczpospolita.
The French newspaper "La Tribune" indicated that in 2024, sales of Chinese cars in Russia surged by 76%, reaching over 943,000 vehicles. Primarily Chinese brands have played a key role in revitalising the local market, which has returned to a level of 1.5 million cars sold annually, a figure last seen just before the aggression against Ukraine.
At the forefront of this automotive shift is Great Wall Motor, which sold 192,000 cars in Russia—an increase of almost 75% compared to the previous year, when sales were slightly over 110,000 units. The subsequent positions on the list are held by brands Chery and Geely, each selling 158,000 vehicles. Changan (103,000 cars), Omoda (50,000), and Exeed (41,000) have also established strong market positions.
Russian Lada continues to fight
Despite the dominance of Chinese companies, the Russian market retains some domestic presence. AvtoVAZ, the producer of the well-known Lada, continues to be a significant player, albeit its role has considerably diminished. The company's car sales rose by 34% to 440,000 units, but its market share decreased from 31% to 28%. Before 2022, AvtoVAZ sold an average of half a million vehicles per year, but it can no longer compete with the expanding Chinese presence.
According to the analytical firm Inovev, although the Russian automotive market is recovering from economic turmoil, it still lags behind the performance levels between 2011-2014, when car sales in Russia exceeded 2 million units per year.
