Produced by Zhineng Technology

In August 2025, the Russian passenger car market witnessed a sale of 122,000 units, marking a 17.6% year-on-year decline. The cumulative sales for the first eight months of the year amounted to 773,264 units, a 23% drop from the corresponding period of the previous year.

The domestic brand Lada continues to lead the market, albeit with a significant drop in sales and a gradually shrinking market share. Chinese brands, as a whole, have managed to maintain their presence in this shrinking market, with Haval, Chery, Geely, Changan, and Jetour, in particular, performing relatively well on the sales charts.

The Belgee brand, a joint venture between Belarus and Geely, is experiencing rapid growth. Toyota stands out as one of the few traditional overseas automakers to achieve counter-trend growth. The Russian auto market is thus evolving into a new landscape, characterized by domestic brands, fast-rising Chinese brands, and a handful of resilient overseas manufacturers.

01

Overview of the Russian Auto Market

Sales in August reached 122,235 units, down 17.6% year-on-year, with a cumulative total of 773,264 units for the first eight months, reflecting a 23% decrease. The market is generally sluggish, with weak demand and notable brand differentiation.

Manufacturer Rankings

◎ Lada remains in the top spot with 27,610 units sold, though its sales dropped by 28.4%, and its market share fell to 22.6%, significantly lower than the over 27% recorded last year.

◎ Haval ranks second with 16,028 units sold, experiencing only a minor decline, and its market share reached 13.1%, the highest so far this year.

◎ Chery performed less well, selling 11,099 units, a 32.9% year-on-year decrease, with its market share dropping to 9.1%.

◎ Geely saw a steeper decline, selling 8,689 units, a 40.1% year-on-year decrease, and its market share shrank to 7.1%.

◎ Belgee emerged as another bright spot, selling 7,806 units in August, a significant 124% year-on-year increase, setting a new brand record and rising to fifth place.

◎ Changan sold 7,010 units, a 38.7% year-on-year decrease, but still managed to stay in the top ten.

◎ Jetour continued its growth trajectory, selling 4,485 units, a 21.1% year-on-year increase, ranking seventh.

◎ Solaris also performed well, selling 3,668 units, a 72.4% year-on-year increase, entering the top ten.

◎ In contrast, Omoda saw a 35.9% decrease, barely holding onto tenth place.

Model-wise Performance

◎ The Lada Granta remained the best-selling model with 12,912 units sold, though its sales dropped by 31.4%, and its market share fell to 10.6%.

◎ The Haval Jolion sold 6,643 units, surpassing the Lada Vesta, which saw a 43.9% decrease, ranking second.

◎ The Belgee X50 sold 5,102 units, entering the top four for the first time and becoming a dark horse.

◎ The Chery Tiggo 7L sold 3,770 units, ranking fifth.

◎ The Tiggo 4 sold 3,476 units, ranking seventh.

◎ The Geely Xingyue L sold 3,331 units, experiencing a relatively minor decline, and held steady at eighth place.

◎ The Haval M6 sold 3,141 units, ranking ninth.

◎ The Lada Niva Legend sold 3,013 units, just making it into the top ten.

Chinese brands accounted for more than half of the top ten models, indicating their growing influence in the Russian market.

02

Performance of Chinese Brands in Russia

Chinese brands continue to hold their ground in the Russian auto market and are responding to the market downturn with various strategies.

◎ Haval performed steadily, selling 16,028 units in August, with a market share exceeding 13%. The Jolion and M6 ranked second and tenth, respectively.

◎ Chery was affected by the overall market downturn, with sales dropping by 32.9% year-on-year, but the Tiggo 7L and Tiggo 4 maintained their positions in the top ten.

◎ Geely sold only 8,689 units in August, a 40% year-on-year decrease, but the Xingyue L remained in the top ten, showing resilience.

◎ The Belgee X50 stood out, selling over 5,000 units in a single month and ranking fourth, aligning well with Russian consumer preferences.

◎ Changan contributed 3,532 units of the Uni-S, holding steady at sixth place.

◎ Jetour, as a new brand, sold 4,485 units in August, a 21.1% year-on-year increase, gradually gaining recognition.

◎ Leapmotor did not make it into the top ten but shows potential in the new energy vehicle sector and may find opportunities in the future due to Russian policies and market gaps.

Summary

In 2025, Chinese brands in Russia did not meet volume expectations, as the market contracted somewhat. However, their model lineup has become increasingly comprehensive, offering products that compete in various segments, from SUVs to compact sedans.