True, the propaganda material contradicted the Kremlin’s earlier calls for citizens to switch to domestically produced cars. As the video showed, Putin drives a German “Mercedes”, and not a Lada, Volga or Muscovite, which many users of social networks worried about.
📽️Russian President Vladimir Putin drove a Mercedes over the bridge connecting Moscow-annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland weeks after the vital link was partially blown up.
Read more here ⬇️https://t.co/DlpuhfICSI pic.twitter.com/iraAhOnXOy
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 5, 2022
Although overall sales of new passenger cars in Russia are down nearly 61% this year, sales of Chinese-brand vehicles in Russia have grown rapidly, reaching 16,138 units in November, nearly double the number of 8,235 sold in the first month of this year car, – reports the Reuters agency.
Since the beginning of the year, the share of Chinese-made cars in the Russian market has increased from 9.6% to 31.3%. Chinese cars are replacing more expensive Western brands, while Russian-made cars dominate the cheaper vehicle segment.
Chinese auto brands now hold 31.3% of Russia’s market share
An increase from 9.6% in pre-war Ukraine as Chinese cars replace more expensive Western vehicles while Russian-made cars dominate the low-cost market
– Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) December 9, 2022
“The production of Western branded cars is small and there are few imported cars, so the market is divided between the Russian and Chinese auto industries,” admits Russian auto industry analyst Vladimir Bespalov.
Russian cars satisfy the demand for lower prices – up to about 1.5 million rubles (about 23,000 euros), but the Chinese also conquer the niche of Westerners with prices above 2.5 million rubles (over 38,000 euros). .
Disassemble and assemble: Made in Russia
When it comes to the development of the Russian automotive market, the new model “Moskvich” stands out. As it turns out, it’s simply a Chinese-delivered “JAC” car, being disassembled and reassembled to become a Russian-made car.
🤡🚗 Russian auto industry made in #China
In the video, the blogger claims that the Chinese are removing some elements from the finished cars and putting them back already inside #Russia. All this for the brand “Made in Russia”. pic.twitter.com/reR12TSE7Y
— NEXT (@nexta_tv) November 28, 2022
The new Russian car Moskvitch looks identical to the Chinese model https://t.co/ScMfz56sDY
— David (@AutomotiveAsset) November 24, 2022
