Car Sales Continue to Shrink in Russia

Deliveries of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia declined 3% to 151,200 units in June, says the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses.

Sales through the first half of 2019 dipped 2% to 828,800 vehicles, thanks to a 4% decline in the second quarter. AEB says the outlook is “not fundamentally better,” making it unlikely that full-year sales will match the 1.80 million units sold in 2018.

The downturn marks the end of a two-year sales rebound in Russia after four years of slumping demand between 2013 and early 2017.

June’s decline hit Russia’s top four brands, which account for half of total market volume. Year-on-year sales last month fell for Lada (-2% to 30,800 units), Kia (-3% to 19,300), Hyundai (-1% to 16,300) and Renault (-12% to 11,900).