Spare-Parts Shortage Drives Return of 'Car Cannibalization' in Russia
A shortage of spare parts is spreading the practice of "car cannibalization" across Russia, with working components stripped from one vehicle to repair another. Insurers say cars are now often stolen to be dismantled for parts rather than resold, driven by costlier original parts and higher logistics costs.
A shortage of spare parts is accelerating the practice of so-called "car cannibalization" in Russia, where vehicles are repaired using components taken from other cars, according to Lithuanian outlet 15min.lt, citing the Russian portal autonews.ru.
The practice — removing technically sound parts from one vehicle and fitting them to another — has become especially common at taxi and car-sharing companies that operate large fleets of identical models. In such cases, it is more economical to transfer doors, a bumper, an engine hood or headlights from one car than to source new parts.
Stolen cars feed the used-parts market
Experts cited in the report note that in recent years the used-parts market has increasingly been supplied not only by cars written off after accidents, but also by stolen vehicles. According to Russian insurance companies, cars today are frequently stolen not to be resold, but to be dismantled for parts.
Insurers point to several drivers: original spare parts have risen sharply in price following changes in the market, some parts are in short supply, and logistics costs have increased. As a result, the illegal spare-parts market has become considerably more attractive to criminals.
Demand is concentrated on parts for the most popular models. Stolen cars are usually dismantled, with their components sold online, through illegal repair shops or on the shadow market. Among the most frequently sold parts, the report lists:
- headlights
- body elements
- wheels
- electronics components
- brake systems
- exhaust system parts
Lexus and Kia most targeted
Insurance companies indicate that in 2026, Lexus remains among the most frequently stolen cars in Russia, alongside popular Kia models. Chinese-made cars, by contrast, are so far less often targeted by thieves.
Experts attribute this to the still relatively small fleet of such vehicles and to a used-parts market that is only beginning to form. They acknowledge, however, that as the number of Chinese cars in Russia grows, demand for their parts will rise as well.
Older vehicles carry the highest risk
Insurers' statistics show that the greatest theft risk falls on older cars. According to the data, more than half of stolen vehicles were four or more years old.
