Experts have explained the secret of the popularity of minivans in Russia

In 2025, 8,700 minivans were sold, which is 13% more than in 2024. Gazprombank Autoleasing experts told about it on February 25.

Full-size minivans turned out to be the only segment that showed growth despite the market, they note. Sales were based on three Chinese models: GAC M8 (1.6 thousand transactions, +23% by 2024), Voyah Dream (1.3 thousand, -15%) and Wey 80 (0.7 thousand), the latter increased the number of fans seven-fold against the background of a low base.

The large stocks of GAC M8, created in late 2024 and early 2025, forced the brand's distributor to make concessions. The cars were sold at a discount of up to 1.3 million rubles. By the end of the year, Voyah Dream began selling more than 200 cars per month. Dealers received cars assembled near Lipetsk, which are subject to state support in the amount of up to 925 thousand rubles. The growth of the Wey 80 hybrid minivan is mainly due to the low base of last year, rather than any significant price movements.

The peak of popularity of the other two vans, the electric Zeekr 009 (449 units, -37%) and the hybrid Hongqi HQ9 (136 vehicles, — 42%), was reached back in 2024. The number of buyers of these Chinese goods will continue to decrease due to the high price (7-8 million rubles) and unclear residual value, experts say.

Five more cars entered the top 10, which saw sales growth in 2025 against a low base. This is the most affordable (starting from 3.4 million rubles) Forthing Yacht (99 cars sold). The modest technical characteristics of this machine and the instability of supplies from the official distributor Ixen Motors Rus are now complicating the further development of the business.

The Denza brand, a BYD sub-brand, is also experiencing supply problems. In addition, its D9 model (71 vehicles, +65%) went up significantly at the end of last year. The 2024 versions can still be found on the market for less than 8 million rubles, but more recent copies are already selling for more than 9 million rubles. The sky-high price tag (from 8.2 million) prevents the massive extravagant hybrid Li Auto Mega (24 deals).

Lipetsk's Evolve i-Van (69 transactions) and Yelabuga's Sollers SP7 (33 vehicles), on the contrary, have good chances for business development due to competitive price tags (4.3–4.7 million rubles) and the stability of the Russian assembly, according to Gazprombank Automotive Leasing.

The trend of last year's sales growth of large, expensive family cars has almost no chance of continuing in the current market situation, said Alexander Kornev, head of the Department for work with importers at Gazprombank Automotive Leasing. Due to changes in tax policy, already expensive minivans are becoming more and more inaccessible to most goods. As the stocks of equipment imported in 2024-2025 are exhausted, sales volumes in this segment will inevitably decrease, the expert believes.

Serial production of the seven-seat passenger version of the Sollers SF1 model has started in Russia at the Sollers Alabuga plant. The price of the model starts from 2.25 million rubles, sales will begin in the spring of 2026. The release of the model is organized using full-cycle technology, which includes all key stages: welding and anti-corrosion cataphoresis treatment of the body by immersion, its painting and final assembly.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.