who is the leader in the Russian market of luxurious cars
The composition of the category of “luxurious” cars available in the Russian Federation, judging by the cars that fall under the corresponding tax, has changed radically since 2014. To brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bugatti, 13 brands were added, including Chinese Hongqi, Lixian, Zeekr, and the total number of models reached 555 pieces. The leadership in the luxury segment is stably behind well -known Western brands with history, while Chinese brands with a comparable price are classified as premium. Sales of luxury cars are generally stable: with a general fall in the market, negative economic factors affect them not so strongly, and the strengthening of the ruble spurves demand. According to the results of the year, the growth of luxury cars is likely, although premium will most likely go into a strong minus, dealers predict.
Sales of new luxury cars in Russia in April – contrary to the crisis in other segments of the car market – increased by 15% year, up to 78 pieces, calculated in Avtostat. The results of four months, according to the agency, by 0.5%, or one car, are inferior to the same period last year, and are 193 pieces. The surge of demand in April is probably associated with the strengthening of the ruble, the CEO of Avtostat Sergey Tselikov argues. Import becomes cheaper, and the purchase, as a result, is more profitable, the interlocutors of Kommersant agree.
In general, according to the director of the Avilon Premium direction, Avilon Avilon, Nikolai Baskakov, the luxury class market in the country is quite stable. The commercial director of the Fresh automotive market Evgeny Zhitnykhin explains this with the stability of the target audience, which has high solvency and is less affected by economic shocks. “They are ready to purchase cars even in the context of rising prices and economic fluctuations,” says the top manager.
The leader in the luxury machine in April, according to Avtostat, was the Bentley brand, the sales of which grew by 22.7%, to 27 pieces. In second place-Rolls-Royce with a result of 26 pieces, which is 62.5% better than last year. The top 3 closes Lamborghini, which reduced the implementation by 45.5%, to 12 pieces. Following Ferrari and Aston Martin, the sales of which grew 4.5 times, to 9 pieces, and 1.5 times, up to 3 pieces. The most popular models in April are Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga, Bentley Continental GT, Lamborghini Urus and Rolls-Royce Spectre. The market also has a Russian Aurus luxury brand, however, sales of brand cars, according to Kommersant, are not officially disclosed.
Most often, purchases are made in the Moscow region, says Mr. Tselikov. Also, market participants note that often luxury cars are drawn up in leasing companies for general directors.
Either luxury, or not suite
The line between the luxury and the upper bar of the premium on the car market is blurred, there are no clear criteria for the separation, the participants of the industry surveyed by Kommersant noted. But besides the high price, which is inherent in both segments – luxury machines are distinguished by the history of the brand and a high reputation. “There is no framework here. But everyone, for example, believes that Rolls-Royce is a luxury. Because it took place for years, for decades, and with some cars and more than a century, ”said Maxim Kadakov, editor -in -chief of the magazine behind the wheel. Mr. Tselikov agrees that there are no single rules for dividing into luxury and premium, but Autostat when analyzing data relies on the opinions of European analysts regarding the segmentation of brands and the price bar.
The average cost of a luxury car, according to the Kommersant survey among dealers, is 30–45 million rubles.
At the same time, there are brands on the Russian market that relate to premium, but inside their line there are models either bordering or entering the territory of the luxury segment, said Nikolai Ivanov, director of the Department of New Cars of Rolf. “For example, the Jaguar Land Rover brand. The Range Rover Autobiography SVO model costs more than 40 million rubles. This is almost the price of Bentley Bentayga, ”the top manager said.
The differences between the luxury segment and the premium, according to Evgeny Zhitnykhin, are exclusivity, the use of highest quality materials, manual labor and unique design solutions, which makes cars, in fact, “works of art”. But, he confirms, given the inflation and changes in the car market, the differences between these categories become less obvious. According to Mr. Zhitnykhin, some premium manufacturers began to offer models with elements of luxury, trying to attract customers from a higher segment.
Another difference between luxury cars is a limited offer, the interlocutors of Kommersant add. Such cars, explains Mr. Ivanov, cannot be sold in the amount of 5 thousand pieces per month. “Maybe there are such markets, for example, in China or the USA, but this is an exception to the rules,” he adds.
The criterion of luxury
One of the official criteria for a respectable car in Russia is to get into the list of models taxed by the so -called luxury tax. Such a tax is calculated according to a certain formula: the standard transport duty is multiplied by a coefficient, depending on the cost and age of the car. The list of machines that fall under increased tax is annually up to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. It includes both luxury and premium brands.
In 2014, when the measure entered into force, cars worth 3 million rubles were considered “luxurious” in Russia. Then the list included only 187 models of car brands Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Masarati, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Bentley, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bugatti.
In 2022 – after the adoption of amendments to the Tax Code – the minimum price of « luxurious » machines increased to 10 million rubles. Such a bar acts now. According to the Miner -Medical Trade, in 2025, 555 models are considered to be “luxurious” – three times more than in the initial list. And the number of brands presented in the list since 2014 has grown by 13 pieces: it appeared in it Chevrolet, Genesis, Aurus and Chinese Aito, Hiphi, Hongqi, Lixiang, Seres, Tank, Voyah, Zeekr, BYD, M -HOO.
Chinese path
Despite the expansion of Chinese cars in Russia, the luxury of the Lux Brands from the PRC did not reach, and there are no prerequisites for the fact that in the future, there are no people surveyed by the “Kommersant”, the industry participants. However, Chinese manufacturers themselves are in no hurry to position themselves like a suite, defining in premium. According to Kommersant’s interlocutors, the skepticism about Chinese cars for Russians in this segment is generally overcome: this is a good alternative (especially the upper bond of the premium segment) for those who do not want to overpay for the supply of European cars.
According to Avtostat, representatives of the PRC in January -April took leading positions in the market of new premium machines, demonstrating generally sharp negative dynamics (minus 45.6% a year by the year). The first place at the EXEED brand, the sales of which were reduced by 51.6% year by the year, to 7.39 thousand pieces. In second place is Tank, which reduced the implementation by 33.9%, to 5.76 thousand pieces. The top 3 closes Lixiang: a drop in sales by 67.7%, up to 3.32 thousand pieces. Next are BMW and Mercedes-Benz (minus 26.6%, up to 3.17 thousand pieces, and minus 21.5%, up to 2.02 thousand units, respectively). The best -selling models in the first four months of this year are Exeeed LX, Tank 300, Tank 500, EXEED RX and LIXIANG L7.
Parallel route
Foreign vehicles of luxury brands officially stopped deliveries to Russia in 2022, but cars continue to be supplied to the country for parallel imports, dealers and experts surveyed by Kommersant. In particular, they are imported through Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Tselikov clarifies.
Most often, Rolls-Royce luxury machines were imported to Russia in January-April, and Avtostat data follows.
The supplies of the brand have grown by a year by 11.9%, to 94 pieces. In second place are Bentley cars, the import of which decreased by 8%, to 69 pieces. On the third – the Lamborghini brand, which reduced the supply by 43.2%, to 42 pieces. The top-5 Ferrari and Aston Martin is closed with 30%growth, up to 39 pieces, and twice, up to 12 pieces. Most often, Kommersant’s interlocutors note, luxury cars are supplied “on order”, in the free sale of their limited number.
The return of luxury brands to Russia is not yet about, however, according to Mr. Ivanov, it will be easiest for them. “The entire commodity-wire chain is small car boutiques. These are not full-fledged dealerships, the opening of which requires much greater preparations, efforts and time, ”the top manager believes. And according to Evgeny Zhitnykhin, the return of foreign luxury brands will still require serious logistics efforts and restore confidence among consumers.
The market is gaining speed
Most market participants and experts evaluate the prospects for the luxury class market positively, at least sales will remain at the level of last year. According to Avtostat, in 2024 568 such cars were sold. “The growth of luxury cars in the second quarter will definitely continue, and the key factor is the summer season, when they are actively buying luxury sports models,” said Nikolai Baskakov. Mr. Zhitnykhin also expects positive dynamics in the segment. The opposite situation was told by “Kommersant” dealers, most likely in the premium. “We understand exactly that the market of premium cars will fall greatly. My forecast is at least 50% by the results of 2025, ”Nikolai Ivanov believes.
