Russia’s car import mix shifts as new vehicle inflows rise and used imports decline
Russia imported 80,600 passenger cars in August 2026, with new-vehicle inflows rising 29% year on year while used imports fell 6%. China dominated new-car supply, Japan led the used segment, and expensive credit weighed on domestic sales.
New and used imports move in opposite directions
Russia imported 80,600 passenger cars in August 2026, according to data from Autostat director Sergei Tselikov cited by Pravda.ru. The two main segments moved in different directions from a year earlier, although both recorded a decline compared with July.
Imports of new passenger cars, defined as vehicles up to three years old, reached 37,700 units. That was 29% more than in August 2025 but 15% below the July level. The figures indicate that demand for recently manufactured foreign models remained resilient on an annual basis even as the monthly pace softened.
Imports of used cars older than three years fell to 42,900 units, down 6% year on year and 15% from July. Logistics specialist Denis Krylov attributed the monthly slowdown to saturated inventories and increasingly complicated financial settlements along transit routes. The report also linked the annual decline to a high comparison base, a build-up of right-hand-drive Japanese vehicles and exchange-rate fluctuations.
China leads new-car supply, while Japan dominates used vehicles
China accounted for 73% of new-car imports in August, giving it an overwhelmingly dominant position in that segment. Kyrgyzstan handled 16.2% of incoming vehicles and remained an important channel for bringing cars into Russia. Customs-clearance specialist Elena Smirnova said the country’s continued prominence in supply chains showed that importers were still seeking ways to optimize customs payments despite tighter controls.
The sourcing pattern was markedly different for used cars. Japan supplied 56% of imports, led by right-hand-drive models. Among left-hand-drive used vehicles, China held a 29.1% share and South Korea accounted for 7.3%. These figures show that Russian buyers continue to rely on separate supply networks: Chinese production for new cars and Japanese inventory for much of the second-hand market.
Established global manufacturers from Germany, Japan and South Korea represented 14.9% of the new-car market, with about 17,000 vehicles sold. Mazda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Germany’s three premium brands were among the ten leading marques supplied through alternative channels. Pravda.ru said domestic brands and officially imported Chinese vehicles now generate the bulk of new-car sales.
Costly credit weighs on the wider market
Total sales of new passenger cars in Russia declined 6.5% to 114,300 units in August. The Lada Granta family remained the country’s best-selling model line, with 10,700 vehicles sold, but the report said high borrowing costs were beginning to suppress demand even for budget models.
Analyst Dmitry Nesterov linked the 6.5% sales contraction to rising household debt burdens and more expensive car loans. Higher financing costs make vehicle purchases less affordable for mass-market consumers, limiting the extent to which stronger imports of newer foreign cars can translate into retail growth.
The August figures therefore present a divided market. Imports of newer vehicles were almost 30% higher than a year earlier, suggesting sustained demand for recent models replacing brands that reduced or ended their direct presence. At the same time, both import categories weakened from July, used-car inflows declined year on year, and overall new-car sales contracted. For manufacturers, dealers and logistics companies, inventory management and access to affordable financing will remain central as Chinese supply consolidates its position and Japanese used cars retain their importance.