Sales of new cars in Russia began to grow
The first week of April gave hope for the restoration of demand in the Russian car market. Interest in purchases supported the discounts of dealers, but truly high rates on loans are still interfering with demand. As a result, the revival that they waited in March will probably have to grow up to 87 thousand cars for this month, the market participants say.
Sales of new cars in Russia in the first week of April grew by 16% of the last week of March, amounting to 24.4 thousand pieces, calculated in Avtostat. Agency CEO Sergey Tselikov notes that the market has been outlined on the market, although very smooth. “The very bottom is passed. Demand for a little grows that we see from week to week. But explosive growth is not expected, ”he says. For sales statistics – however, not more – the technical factor influenced: the last two days of March were on the weekend in the traffic police, and then the cars sold then registered in the first week of April, the expert said. In relation to the same last year, the dynamics are still very negative, which is explained by the high base of last year. “Then, in the wake of the upsurge of the utilsbor in the market of passenger cars, there was a stir of excitement,” explains Mr. Tselikov.
Maxim Sokolovthe head of AvtoVAZ, at the end of February, Interfax:
“We clearly see that the market as a whole is worse than the trajectory of last year.”
According to the director of the Department of Sales of New Cars of Rolf, Nikolai Ivanov, April will become a month of stabilization of the car market. He notes a moderate revitalization of consumer activity at the beginning of the month, but does not yet see signs of a sharp restoration of interest in purchases. Maxim Kadakov, editor -in -chief of the magazine behind the wheel, believes that the traditional spring growth of demand that did not occur in March (See “Kommersant” from April 4) Perhaps it will go to April. Discounts for new cars are an additional sales incentive that dealers and importers are actively given against the background of overstrain (See “Kommersant” from March 26), he believes. The expert adds that in May the market will again reach the minus relative to last month due to long holidays.
The CEO of Avtopotzcentr Group of Companies Andrei Terlukevich confirms that April began a little better than Marta, which allows you to count on a slight increase in sales. “On the other hand, in the month minus one calendar day, that along with the opening of the summer season and the onset of long weekend in May, can level the entire height of the first week of April,” the top manager argues.
According to Avtostat, sales growth is recorded not only in the passenger segment, but also in light commercial (LCV) and cargo.
So, sales of new LCVs according to the results of the first week increased by 20%, to 2 thousand units, medium -tonnage and heavy trucks – by 4%, up to 1.25 thousand units. According to analysts, there is no need to talk about the restoration of demand in the cargo segment: in addition to the high rate of the Central Bank, the market presses the drains of both new equipment and seized by lesslers (See “Kommersant” from April 2). The LCV market looks, according to the estimates of the “Kommersant” experts, more promising: the demand for it is not chosen as much as in the cargo segment, where sales of the last two years reached record values.
In April, sales of new cars can grow to 85–87 thousand pieces, predicts Renate oflae. Nikolai Ivanov expects the market growth according to the results of the month to 82–85 thousand pieces (in March, sales amounted to 79.8 thousand cars). “The main drivers will be numerous support programs from automakers, since most brands are now in the discount zone,” the top manager believes. At the same time, a significant increase in sales of new cars can be expected only with a decrease in credit rates, market participants are unanimously believed. And as soon as the sale of excessive supplies ends, the discounts will be adjusted, which will lead to a rise in the cost of cars, provoking an even greater drop in demand, said Andrei Terlukevich. “There are no reasons for global optimism now,” says Mr. Palekteev.
