Right hand drive: used car imports in the Far East are breaking records
Russia has seen an increase in used car imports in the Far East. Cars of not only Korean and Japanese brands, but also "Europeans" are being transported to our country, and with right-hand drive. This is due to buyers' expectations of a possible tightening of the rules for the import of used cars, as well as attractive prices for such models, experts believe. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.
Eastern delivery
By the end of July, 31.1 thousand cars for personal use were imported through Vladivostok alone. Such data is provided by the press service of the Vladivostok customs. According to the department, this is a new record: in July 2024, just over 26 thousand cars were imported. Thus, compared to last year, the import of cars increased by one and a half times, customs officials emphasize. The vast majority of cars imported through the Far East are used models with right—hand controls.
In total, from January to July inclusive, Vladivostok customs processed 172 thousand cars imported by individuals. This is 16% more than in the first seven months of last year. Most often, cars of Japanese brands (Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Honda, Subaru and Suzuki), as well as Korean (Hyundai and Kia) are imported through the Far East. From China, this way, "single copies arrive in our country," customs officials say.
According to the general director of the analytical agency Autostat, currently the majority (52%) of used car imports are "right-hand drive" models. The key brands are Toyota cars, which account for 34% of the total volume of such cars, as well as Honda with a share of 29%. Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru, and Mazda also have a large share in the import of used right-hand drive models with mileage.
— This part of the import is traditional for the eastern part of the country. Almost all imports come directly from Japan. There is a huge variation in age. There are both relatively fresh cars aged 3-5 years, and models older than seven years," said Sergey Tselikov.
At the same time, along with Japanese brands, models of European brands have recently become more common in the import of used cars: Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW. However, unlike the used "Europeans" that are imported from China, right-hand drive Volkswagen and Mercedes cars are being brought from Japan to our country.
The secret of success
At the moment, right-hand drive Japanese models are the most interesting and profitable offer on the secondary market, says Igor Morzharetto, partner of Autostat. There is a demand for them, and therefore there is an increase in their imports, he explained. In addition, the stable supply of used cars from Japan is related to the specifics of local legislation regarding car maintenance.
— In Japan, the car inspection and maintenance system is similar to the aviation one — one or another car unit must be replaced after a certain time or mileage, regardless of its condition. A conditional starter, generator, or some other unit may be fully functional. But the regulations require the owner to change it to a new one anyway, and at a certified technical center. This is quite expensive, after reaching a certain age of the car or mileage, Japanese car owners try to get rid of it and take a new model. The cars that are disposed of in this way are exported, including to our country," Igor Morjarato told Izvestia.
As a rule, cars imported from Japan have relatively low mileage and decent technical condition, says Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine. Most often, compact models with small engines, often with all-wheel drive and with a good level of equipment, come to our country.
— Against the background of a noticeably reduced supply of European models to the Russian secondary market and a noticeable deterioration in the technical condition of existing copies, a used right-hand drive is becoming one of the alternatives. Japanese cars are quite practical, due to competent ergonomics and a variety of interior transformation options, they are very spacious, even despite their small external dimensions," the expert noted.
In addition, the increasingly frequent offers for the sale of European models with right-hand drive are becoming for some buyers almost the only opportunity to purchase a car of a familiar brand, even with the steering wheel located "on the other side," Maxim Kadakov believes.
Waiting for restrictions
Experts attribute the sharp increase in used car imports in the Far East not only to market needs, but also to expectations of the introduction of new bans and restrictions on the import of cars by individuals.
— Not so long ago, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, announced the idea of a possible revision of the rules for "preferential" recycling for individual importers. The parameter was also mentioned, at which a car imported even for personal use will be subject to "commercial" recycling — 160 hp. It is possible that these statements also became an additional incentive to increase imports of used cars, including from Japan, Maxim Kadakov believes.
Igor Morzharetto agrees with him. He also believes that against the background of such statements, people began to purchase cars for future use, on the principle of "until this is covered up."
The area is expanding
For a long time, the patrimony of the "right steering" was mainly the Far East and Siberia — in some eastern regions of the country, the fleet consists of 80% of such cars. However, in the last few years, their "habitat" has been actively expanding to the west, experts say.
— Relatively recent models with right-hand drive have become increasingly common in the European part of the country. Compact Japanese keycars, minivans and crossovers in which the driver sits on the right are not uncommon on the roads of Moscow and the Moscow region, Maxim Kadakov shared his observations.
In the Far East, the system of maintenance and supply of spare parts for such machines has long been fine-tuned. Gradually, there are more and more technical centers and car service centers specializing in "right hand drive" in the European part of Russia, Jan Haitser, vice president of the National Automobile Union (NAS), told Izvestia. According to him, most often repairs and maintenance of such machines are carried out with used or refurbished spare parts — for this purpose, broken "Japanese" are specially imported to Russia: for disassembly into parts.
— There are no problems with "consumables" and the most common parts and assemblies for "right-hand drive" cars. Even if some details don't turn out to be in Moscow, for example, then they will definitely be in Novosibirsk, Irkutsk or Vladivostok. Well, we may have to wait a little while until it is delivered. But, as a rule, all the necessary spare parts are available. Moreover, buyers are most often attracted by the most common models. Some kind of "exotic" items that need to be searched for and wait a long time for their delivery are still quite rare," the NAS vice president told Izvestia.
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