Car sales in Russia in April this year fell by 41,5 percent compared to the same month last year, in the context of the economic and monetary crisis in that country.
In the observed month, only 132.456 new vehicles were sold on the Russian market, which represents the lowest monthly level for the last 10 years, the Association for European Business (AEB) announced, as reported by AFP.
The Russian vehicle market, which experienced a boom in 2012, reaching the second position in Europe behind Germany, in the first quarter of this year recorded a drop of 37,7 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Such weak sales in April, as stated, were recorded in the same month of 2009, at the beginning of the financial crisis, although it was somewhat better then, i.e., 136.000 new vehicles were sold.
Last year, the Russian market weakened by 10 percent, but the decline accelerated at the beginning of this year, which forced manufacturers to reduce the level of employment, the AEB points out.
As for individual brands, sales of the Russian Lada brand, owned by the Renault-Nissan company, fell 38 percent in April, while sales of Renault and Nissan vehicles fell 41 percent and 44 percent, respectively.
Other large vehicle manufacturers, present in Russia, also recorded negative trends. Hyundai's sales were 14 percent lower compared to April last year, Kia's by 22 percent, and Toyota's by as much as 54 percent.
In the observed month, Volkswagen sold 47 percent fewer vehicles, while the General Motors brands, "Opel" and "Chevrolet", had a drop of 59 and 64 percent. Peugeot and Sitoren also recorded a decline, and at even higher rates, of 76 and 70 percent.
Only expensive vehicles resisted the crisis, so the "Porsche" (Volkswagen group) and "Lexus" (Toyota) brands had sales growth in April of 12 percent and five percent, respectively.
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