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- Higher and higher: Russia has entered the top five countries with the most expensive cars
Higher and higher: Russia has entered the top five countries with the most expensive cars
Russia is one of the five countries with the highest average cost of cars. In dollar terms, cars in Russia cost almost twice as much as in China or Japan, and almost four times as much as in India. Experts explain such a significant difference by the specifics of the structure of automotive markets and the peculiarities of tariff and tax policy in different countries. The details are in the Izvestia article.
It's going to be too much
Currently, the average price of a new car in Russia is 3.5 million rubles. This was announced by Sergey Tselikov, General Director of the analytical agency Autostat. Since 2022, when it was equal to 2.4 million rubles, this figure has increased by 46%, the expert notes. Taking into account the February exchange rate of the US currency in the range of 76-78 rubles, the average price of a new passenger car in Russia exceeded $ 45 thousand, he estimated.
— Comparing this indicator with other countries, it is clear that cars in Russia are becoming one of the most expensive in the world. But there are also more expensive ones," said Sergey Tselikov.
In the ranking of countries compiled by the CEO of Autostat, Russia took the fifth place (in dollar terms). The average cost of cars was higher in Canada ($62,000), the United Kingdom ($61,000), the United States ($52,000) and Israel ($50,000). At the same time, in Germany it is $40 thousand, and in Australia it is $ 35 thousand. Compared to China and Japan ($22.5 thousand and $22.4 thousand, respectively), the average cost of a car in Russia is almost twice as high, and compared to India ($11 thousand) — four times.
The weighted average prices in a particular country are largely determined by the market structure, which can vary significantly, the head of Autostat notes.
For example, the "high cost" in the US and Canadian markets is explained by the large proportion of full-size SUVs and pickups, whose prices themselves are noticeably higher than for sedans or crossovers. In the UK, the share of the premium segment among the cars sold is high, and import duties are very high in Israel, Sergei Tselikov notes.
Why is it so expensive?
Igor Morzharetto, partner of Autostat, explains the significant increase in the average cost of a new car in our country due to the dramatically changed structure of the Russian car market over the past four years.
— By 2022, approximately 85-90% of new cars on the market were produced at domestic car factories. Accordingly, there were no duties or recycling fees in their price. Currently, the share of such cars is about 50-55%, but not all of them have a localization level that allows them to completely eliminate recycling from their cost. For a number of models, it is fully compensated to the automaker, for others — only partially, " he told Izvestia.
At the same time, the share of taxes and fees is high in the price of domestic cars, even those that fully meet the localization requirements, the expert notes.
"Even if we completely exclude factors such as export duties and recycling, the retail price of the car still includes VAT (starting January 1, 2026, it is 22% — Izvestia) and excise tax," Igor Morzharetto noted.
Irina Frank, CEO of Frank Auto, calls the disruption of the usual logistical relationships in the supply of cars another factor that led to an increase in the average cost of a car in Russia.
— In 2022, many global players left the market. Their replacement with new brands, mainly from China, took place in the context of a huge increase in costs. Logistics, insurance, extended supply chains — all this required money, and this money naturally fell into the cost of the car," she explained.
In addition, four years ago, the affordable European, Japanese and Korean models disappeared from the market. They were replaced by Chinese cars, Irina Frank recalls. During this time, they have gone from an "alternative with unknown quality" to a full-fledged product that is understandable to the consumer, the expert notes.
"But as the demand and trust for these brands grew, so did their price tags," she emphasizes.
"Beyond the sea, a half—calf"
The difference in the average cost of a car in Russia and India in absolute terms is, of course, significant, notes Igor Morzharetto. But at the same time, it must be understood that the models presented on the Indian market are unique in their own way, he emphasizes.
— As a rule, these are machines of outdated, in some cases, and frankly primitive design. They don't have, for example, a "stove", but they also have an air conditioner. Cars in India are often devoid of security systems that have already become familiar — such cars are quite satisfied with local buyers. For many of them, even such a car is an element of luxury," Igor Morzharetto told Izvestia.
Irina Frank explains the low average cost of a car in China due to the excessive competition of car manufacturers in the country.
— Imagine a market where dozens of manufacturers are working at the same time, many of which are subsidized by the state. They are waging price wars for survival, constantly dumping. Plus, the colossal scale of production, which allows us to reduce production costs to levels that are not yet available to us," she notes.
In Japan, a huge market share is occupied by "keycars" - inexpensive compact subcompacts, which are subject to tax incentives, says Irina Frank. The situation is similar in Korea, where the proportion of affordable subcompacts is also high, the expert emphasizes.
— Germany, with its 40,000 dollars per car, is a market with a completely different income level. But there is also a nuance here: a large proportion of premium cars form a high average price. However, the German buyer always has a choice of inexpensive compact models, a powerful leasing and trade-in market," says the CEO of Frank Auto.
As for the situation in Russia, the result of $45,000 is a consequence of the high threshold for entry into our market and its shift to the mid—price segment, she believes.
— Today, the Russian buyer is faced with a choice: either pay 3.5 million for a mass-produced car, or not buy anything. We didn't all drive luxury cars — the segment of really affordable cars has practically disappeared," says Irina Frank.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
