Foreign Cars Drive Downhill
September was the worst month for Russia’s vendors of new foreign cars. As many as 15 brands showed the decline, including traditional leaders Chevrolet, Ford and Renault. Moderate-price cars suffered the heftiest losses and the dealers apprehend the turmoil to continue for another year or a year and a half.
The Association of European Businesses released yesterday the January to September data on sales of new foreign cars in Russia. The sales surged 40 percent to 1.61 million cars. Chevrolet led with 175,800 cars and the growth of 34 percent, Hyundai had 159,400 (67 percent) and Toyota was the third leader with 145,400 cars (32 percent), having outpaced Ford (141,400; 17 percent) by results of the first nine months of 2008.
At the same time, the market stepped up by no more than 22 percent in September vs. the average monthly growth of 40 percent manifested earlier this year. The sales of 15 brands shed that month. Amid them were the current leader Chevrolet (down 2 percent), Ford (down 13 percent), Mitsubishi (25 percent), Renault (4 percent) and Kia (11 percent).
For Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Renault and Kia, the decline started in August, but the analysts were in no hurry with their reports, waiting for the September performance. Nowadays, it is clear that the global financial crisis hasn’t missed automobile market of Russia.
The mass and moderate-price cars were the first victims. The sales of Russia’s most popular Ford Focus dropped 22 percent in September, Renault Logan fell 15 percent, Hyundai Accent sank 28 percent, Daewoo Matiz shed 11 percent and Chevrolet Lanos fell 35 percent. The result was the unexpected September leadership of Toyota in terms of the sold volume.
But the sales are declining in premium sector as well. Volvo lowered by 35 percent, Porsche fell 13 percent, Cadillac went down 7 percent and Hummer sank 26 percent.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 09, 2008
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