Russia Records 9.5 Percent Decline in January Car Sales

(MENAFN) Russia recorded 80,604 new passenger vehicle sales in January, reflecting a 9.5 percent year-on-year decline, industry data disclosed Wednesday.

Domestic manufacturer Lada maintained its market-leading position, delivering 19,644 units throughout the month, said Sergey Tselikov, director of Russian automotive analytical agency Autostat.

Chinese automaker Haval secured second place and topped foreign brands with 10,726 vehicles sold, while in third place was Russia's new brand Tenet, with sales reaching 8,949 units.

Tselikov characterized the January performance of the Russian passenger car market as weak but largely expected, with the decline remaining within a "controlled" range of 10 percent.

He noted that demand had been significantly pulled forward in the autumn of 2025, as consumers rushed to purchase vehicles amid expectations of a price increase driven by higher recycling fees and a value-added tax hike.

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