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Cars: Logan, Duster and Sandero in top 25 of best sold cars in Russia
In March, Duster, Logan and Sandero were in the top 25 of best sold cars in Russia, according to data published on Friday by the Association of European Businesses (AEB). However, sales of automobiles and light commercial vehicles in that market dropped by 10% to 125,917 units, on the background of problems confronting economy and the depreciation of the national currency. Reuters writes that March results prove that the automobile market on the overall is not in a good situation yet, although it has gradually recovered after months of continuous decline. Additional progress in that direction depends on macroeconomic stability and continuous government efforts in stimulating demand in the months to come, said Joerg Schreiber, president of AEB.
Last month, Solaris from Hyundai was first in the top of best sold cars in Russia (7,678 units), followed by Rio from Kia (5,832), Lada Granta (5,181) and Lada Vesta from AvtoVAZ and Duster with 4,237 units. Sandero and Logan ranks 11th and 13th with 2,618 and 2,389 vehicles.
Duster, Logan and Sandero are manufactured by Renault.
In the first quarter of 2016, 319,092 automobiles and light commercial vehicles were sold in Russia, on the drop by 16.9% against 2015. This year demand may drop by another 4,7% to 1.53 million vehicles, Joerg Schreiber estimated.
Over January-March 2016, the best sold cars in Russia were Solaris from Hyundai (21,434 units), Lada Granta manufactured by AvtoVAZ (18,893), Rio from Kia (16,402) and Duster (10,813). Logan and Sandero ranked 12th and 13th, with 6,095 and 5,921 units.
Automonile sales in the Russian market went down by 36% last year on the background of economic recession, due to international sanctions and the drop of crude prices.
Renault has a 50% participation to the holding company that controls AvtoVAZ, while the Japanese partner Missan Motor Co. owns a package of 17.13% shares and the Russian corporation Rostec has 32.87%. Together, Renault, Nissan and AvtoVAZ were responsible for about a third of the 1.6 million new cars sold in Russia last year. Nevertheless their combined sales dropped by 32% annual rate.