Russia’s heavy truck sales fell 18.8% in 2024 as Chinese brands led the market
Russian sales of new heavy commercial vehicles over 16 tonnes declined 18.8% to 102,007 units in 2024. SITRAK took a 19% market share and displaced KAMAZ from the annual lead, while December sales fell 38.8% year on year.
Heavy truck sales fall to 102,007 units
Sales of new heavy commercial vehicles in Russia declined sharply in 2024, signaling weaker demand for equipment used in freight transport, construction and industrial operations. According to data from Autostat reported by TAdviser, 102,007 new trucks with a gross vehicle weight above 16 tonnes were sold during the year, 18.8% fewer than in 2023.
The contraction followed a period in which Russian transport operators and other corporate buyers had been replacing vehicles amid major changes in the availability of foreign brands. The 2024 result nevertheless left the market above 100,000 units, with Chinese manufacturers occupying most of the leading positions. The performance of individual brands varied considerably: Dongfeng increased sales by 99.8% and Sany by 77.4%, while Foton recorded the steepest reported decline at 56.8%.
SITRAK overtakes KAMAZ in annual ranking
Chinese brand SITRAK led Russia’s heavy truck market for the full year with 19,409 vehicles sold and a 19% share, Autostat data showed. KAMAZ ranked second with 17,254 units and lost the annual leadership position for the first time. Shacman followed with 15,729 vehicles, while FAW sold 11,605 and Dongfeng 8,260.
The model ranking reflected the same shift. The SITRAK C7H was the best-selling heavy truck in Russia in 2024, with 19,374 units. Seven of the ten most popular models were produced by Chinese manufacturers, while the remaining three were KAMAZ vehicles. The concentration of Chinese models among the market leaders illustrates how suppliers from China have filled much of the space left by established foreign manufacturers whose Russian positions weakened.
December decline outpaces the annual contraction
The market weakened further at the end of the year. Russian buyers purchased 6,474 new heavy trucks in December 2024, down 38.8% from December 2023. KAMAZ regained the monthly lead with 1,723 units, substantially ahead of SITRAK, which sold 907. Shacman recorded 758 vehicles, FAW 743 and Belarusian manufacturer MAZ 569. Dongfeng and Howo followed with 396 and 278 units respectively, while Foton dropped out of the monthly top 10 and was replaced by Russia’s Valdai.
Some models still expanded despite the December downturn. Sales of the Belarusian MAZ 6312 increased by 18.8% year on year, and the Russian KAMAZ 65115 gained 12.9%. Five of the ten models in the December ranking were Chinese heavy trucks. For manufacturers and dealers, the faster year-end decline points to a more difficult order environment than the full-year figure alone suggests. Fleet operators, meanwhile, entered the following year with a wider selection of Chinese vehicles but with overall purchasing activity losing momentum.