Sales of new vehicles in the first half of the year fell by nearly a third, according to the Trade Ministry
New car sales in Russia totaled 607,500 units in the first half of 2025, down 28% from a year earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Wednesday. The sharp decline follows a surge in new car sales recorded last year.
Sales of domestically produced vehicles totaled 333,300 units, an 11% decline from the same period last year. Passenger car sales fell 26% to 526,700 units, while light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales dropped 19% to 48,800 units. Truck and bus sales saw a steep decline of 54%, falling to 27,000 and 4,900 units, respectively.
In June alone, new vehicle sales dropped 31% year-on-year to just under 101,000 units, making a 2% decrease compared to the previous month.
Passenger car sales last month stood at 89,600 units, down 27% from a year earlier and 1% below May’s total. LCV sales fell 32% year-on-year to 7,100 units, 7% lower than May. Truck sales dropped to 3,600 units, down 66% from June 2024 and 3% from the previous month. Bus sales were 663 units, down 58% and 6% year-on-year and month-on-month, respectively.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales reached nearly 4,800 units in the first half of 2025, marking a 57% year-on-year decline. Locally produced EVs accounted for 23% of that total, up from 18% in the same period a year ago. In June, 44,700 imported vehicles were sold, a 45% year-on-year decline, while sales of Russian-made cars fell 12.5% to 56,200 units.
Last year, Russia’s new‑vehicle market experienced a sharp rebound, with year-over-year sales climbing around 39% to approximately 1.84 million units. It was fueled by a 47% surge in passenger car sales and strong gains in light commercial vehicles and buses. Domestic brands led the recovery, having recorded a 28% rise in sales.
Earlier this week, Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov said the domestic auto industry had grown 35% year-on-year in 2024 due to government stimulus, but that rising interest rates and tightening auto loan conditions have driven a major market contraction over the past five months. The minister also said the government is planning to expand subsidies and support programs to prevent the market from falling more than 40%.
