Reducing the cost of cars was a logical step to somehow revive demand.
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DISCOUNTS AND BONUSES
Food, clothes, household appliances, gasoline – it would seem that everything is becoming more expensive. But no! While other goods are rising in price, the cost of cars is falling. This is the conclusion reached by analysts of the Avto.ru Rating service. Moreover, prices have been falling for seven months of the current year. As a result, if in July 2023 cars were sold on average for 3.8 million rubles, now it is “only” 3.57 million. Minus 6% per year!
“Let’s start with the fact that a year ago we practically reached a ceiling in terms of prices and sales on the market practically stopped,” says car expert Andrei Lomanov. – Reducing the cost of cars was a logical step to somehow revive demand.
Let’s remember that sales have increased by 72% since the beginning of the year: according to the Autostat agency, 855,561 new cars were sold in the country from January to the end of July (compared to 497,439 in the same period in 2023). In addition, 9.5% more cars found buyers in July than in June. In other words, the market continues to gain momentum.
“But the overstock continues: the warehouses and car parks of dealers are full,” continues Andrei Lomanov. – And in the autumn a significant increase in the recycling fee (protective taxes for imported cars – Ed.) is expected. And, as a result, prices are rising. Dealers are forced to fight for the buyer right now and do it in every possible way: by offering discounts, bonuses and gifts.
Interestingly, in some regions the price reduction turned out to be much more significant than the Russian average. Thus, in Karelia and the Bryansk region, car prices fell by 21-23%. But in Moscow the cost of new cars even increased – by 1%. And it is still the highest in the country – 4.56 million. True, experts explain that we are talking about the average price of all models available for sale. In relative terms, in the capital you can buy a new Mercedes or Audi, which are imported through parallel imports, but not in Bryansk. Hence the difference in numbers.
As for specific models, the prices of premium electric vehicles Hongqi E-HS9 and Volkswagen ID.6 have decreased most noticeably. But the most popular foreign car in the country, Haval Jolion (43,511 cars sold since the beginning of the year), after a recent restyling, on the contrary, increased in price by 2.2% and closed the top ten of the most expensive cars (see “Just the numbers”). All the other cars on the list of those that have become more expensive are representatives of brands that have left Russia.
ILLUSION OR REALITY?
At the same time, several experts advise against fooling ourselves with falling prices.
“I don’t think that the real price has decreased,” says Anton Shaparin, vice-president of the National Automobile Union. – The study shows the so-called illustrative value. That is, offers that dealers use in advertising and on official websites to attract buyers to the showroom. You won’t always be able to buy a car at this price. It turns out that the required equipment is not available, or you have to pay extra for already installed options and additional equipment, someone insists on buying a proprietary roadside assistance program… In general, there is enough choice. If we add to this the cost of credit (and most cars are still bought on credit, despite the rise in interest rates), the final price for the consumer increases even more. In any case, in the near future we will see the opposite picture and the prices for new cars will begin to be rewritten upwards.
MEANWHILE
Used ones are getting more and more expensive!
The average price of used cars, on the other hand, has increased significantly – by 10% compared to last year. According to the Avto.ru Otsenka service, it now amounts to 2.1 million rubles. The study only concerned cars no older than 15 years.
It is true that some models have become a little cheaper. But this applies to older models, such as the Renault Mégane III (minus 4.2% – 694,000 rubles) or the first-generation BMW X6 (minus 3.6% – 2.66 million rubles). Both were discontinued in 2014.
