The auto expert explained the growing demand for electric cars in Russia

Demand for electric vehicles in Russia continues to grow: in June 2026, sales of such cars increased 2.5 times. Mikhail Kolesnikov, founder of the Benza Group of Companies, told Izvestia about this on July 31.

According to the expert, a particularly noticeable increase in interest in electric cars is observed in the south of Russia, in particular in Sochi.

"In families where there are two cars, people began to save money and use one, and those who were just planning to purchase the first car or were looking for a second in the family increasingly switched their attention to the electric option," said Kolesnikov.

According to him, the transition to electric traction corresponds to the global trend in the development of environmentally friendly transport and is associated with the desire of car owners to reduce the cost of operating a car.

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"Today, the economy of ownership, or more precisely, the cost of a kilometer, is becoming the central incentive for the mass buyer. Electric travel is much cheaper than gasoline," Kolesnikov said.

He stressed that the problem of lack of charging infrastructure is gradually losing relevance. Charging stations are appearing on the territories of hotels, parking lots, new residential complexes and other facilities, which makes the use of electric vehicles more convenient.

Kolesnikov believes that the growth of the electric car market in Russia is a long-term process. As the charging infrastructure develops and the number of cars on the roads increases, the transition to electric vehicles will become more sustainable.

Earlier, on July 24, it was reported that among Russians who plan to buy a car in 2026, almost one in three is considering moving a car from abroad (31%). 38% are going to buy a used car on the Russian market. 19% replied that they were considering buying a new car from an authorized dealer, while 12% were interested in new cars imported under alternative import schemes.