Ex-head of AvtoVAZ found similarities between Russians and Americans

Russians can be emotional and spontaneous when buying a car, and in this respect they are similar to Americans. Former AvtoVAZ head Bo Andersson told Kommersant in an interview that was published on February 12.

According to the Swedish top manager, for the majority of Russian car buyers it is not so much the design that is important, but such factors as safety, functionality and the total cost of ownership of the car. The typical Russian driver wants to enjoy his car, expects a low total cost of ownership and hopes for a high resale value, he pointed out.

"In this respect, Russians remind me a lot of Americans. Those too can make an emotional and spontaneous purchase. But usually still Americans calculate everything that concerns money quite accurately. My experience with Russian cars shows that they are developed, designed and tested exactly for local roads and conditions," Andersson shared.

It is also important for Russian motorists that spare parts for their cars are easily available and maintenance is inexpensive. At the same time, many people prefer and even like to service and repair their cars themselves. However, many such parameters with regard to Chinese cars are still unknown, he noted.

For example, many Russians are confused by the abundance of Chinese car brands and the rapid entry of updated versions of cars into the market. If in China the period of car ownership is about three-four years, in Russia it is more than seven. As a result, the owner of a recently purchased car, which soon turns out to be obsolete, begins to feel cheated, Andersson explained.

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The day before, Andersson said that automobile brands from Europe, the United States, South Korea and Japan have not lost interest in the Russian car market and will eventually return.