Orient Express: Chinese foreign cars with mileage flooded into Russia
The used car market is showing strong positive dynamics: sales increased by 21% in July. At the same time, the share of used cars imported from China has increased sharply since the beginning of the year. Most of these cars are models of European or Japanese brands assembled at car factories in China. Experts believe that their number in the Russian market will only increase in the future. The details are in the Izvestia article.
All in height
In July, 567.2 thousand used passenger cars were sold in Russia, which is 21.4% more than a month earlier. Such data is provided by the analytical agency Autostat. This is 3.8% higher than in July last year, the agency said. In total, from January to July inclusive, Russians bought 3.3 million used passenger cars, which is 0.2% more than in the same period a year earlier.
As among new cars, Lada is the leader in the secondary market: in July, 139.2 thousand such used cars were purchased. Toyota is on the second line with 58.4 thousand cars. This is followed by Kia and Hyundai —33.1 thousand and 31.7 thousand cars, respectively). Nissan closes the top five with a score of 25 thousand units. Volkswagen ranks sixth (23.6 thousand), followed by Honda (20.2 thousand) and Chevrolet (19.8 thousand). Renault and Ford also got into the top 10 with the result of 18.7 thousand and 16.6 thousand cars.
The most popular model among used passenger cars in July was the Lada 2107 sedan — 13.1 thousand. The second and third places with a result of 11 thousand units each are shared by Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio. Lada 2114 has the fourth position (10.2 thousand). Ford Focus closes the top five aftermarket leaders with 9.9 thousand units. The top 10 models on the secondary market also included Toyota Corolla (9.7 thousand), Priora (9.3 thousand), Niva (8.8 thousand), as well as Toyota Camry (just over 8 thousand) and Grant (7.9 thousand).
China is gaining momentum
The recent trend is a sharp increase in used car imports from China. According to Sergey Tselikov, General Director of Autostat, if at the beginning of the year China accounted for only about 3% of the total structure of used cars imported to Russia, then by July this figure had increased to 16%. Thus, the volume of used car imports from China has more than quadrupled in seven months.
At the same time, as Sergey Tselikov told Izvestia, most of these imports come from models of global brands assembled in China.
— Most of the relatively fresh models, "three-year-olds", are being brought to us from China. This can be seen not even by the year, but by the month of release. Now, as a rule, these are cars produced in late 2021 and the first half of 2022. Moreover, most of the imports of used cars from China are cars of global automobile brands produced in China. There are a lot of used Toyota, Volkswagen, Mazda, Nissan, BMW models produced in China. Chinese brands directly account for about 25% of used car imports, mainly Geely and Changan," Sergey Tselikov told Izvestia.
According to the head of Autostat, the share of the "right" steering wheel in the total volume of used car imports is gradually decreasing. So, from January to July, compared to the same period last year, it decreased by about 10%. At the same time, Japan remains the largest supplier of used cars to our country, accounting for just over 46% of all used cars imported into the Russian Federation.
However, unlike China, "everything in a row" is being brought to us from Japan, Sergei Tselikov noted in a conversation with Izvestia. According to him, among the "right-hand drive" cars there are both fairly recent models aged three to five years, as well as a significant number of cars older than ten years.
It's a matter of habit
Igor Morzharetto, partner of the analytical agency Autostat, explains the sharp increase in used car imports from China by the desire of Russian motorists to purchase a well-known model of a global automaker.
— The same Volkswagen or Toyota, assembled in China, are not much different from similar models produced in Europe or Japan. But at the same time, it is much easier to import them into our country without inventing complicated routes to circumvent the bans imposed several years ago. In addition, during further operation, there will be fewer difficulties with maintenance and repair — it is easier to deliver spare parts from China than from other countries, the expert believes.
The share of used car imports from China will grow in the future, while the ratio between global and Chinese car brands will increase towards the latter, Igor Morzharetto believes. Previously, Russian buyers had no idea what would happen to a Chinese car after a few years of operation, but now they already have such an idea, he noted. And this allows potential buyers to consider purchasing a "Chinese" with mileage, the expert believes.
— Over the past three years, there has already been some experience in operating models from China — there have been no fatal malfunctions. Accordingly, it is highly likely that in the foreseeable future, interest in used "Chinese" will grow, both in relation to cars that are already in Russia and imported from China," he shared his forecasts with Izvestia.
Maxim Kadakov, the editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine, shares a similar point of view. According to him, the increase in the share of used car imports from China is due, among other things, to the gradually changing attitudes of Russians towards such cars.
— The domino effect can work: a neighbor or acquaintance drives a conditional "Chinese" for a while, with whom nothing terrible happens. Why don't I take the same one, only used, and order it immediately from China? — he told about a possible behavior pattern of a potential buyer.
Taking into account the very rapid updating of the model range by Chinese automakers, there are always a huge number of cars on sale in the domestic secondary market of China, Maxim Kadakov noted. And some of them may well be imported into our country, he believes.
The stage of evolution
The growth of used car imports from China is a natural stage in the evolution of the Russian car market, according to Irina Frank, CEO of Frank Auto.
— Consumers saw them as an attractive alternative: for comparable money, you can get a car several years younger, with a more modern design and rich equipment than used offers from Europe. In addition, the logistics of supplies from China, especially to the eastern regions of the country, is much easier and cheaper, which also stimulates these imports," she said.
The prospects for the used car market in Russia look very stable, but its structure will continue to change dramatically, says Nikita Kolesnikov, a representative of the Japanese export company HSS in the Russian Federation. In his opinion, in the medium term, it will be possible to observe a complete transformation of the secondary market, where Chinese brands will occupy a dominant position, displacing traditional leaders.
— At the same time, we should expect a pronounced polarization of demand. On the one hand, the segment of modern and affordable "Chinese" under the age of three will be actively developing. On the other hand, the niche of old but time—tested Japanese cars will remain, and perhaps even strengthen," he predicts.
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