Foreign carmakers boost Russia sales in March, AEB says

Apr 10, 2012 | 12:15 PM |

Sales of new cars built in Russia by foreign-based auto manufacturers surged in March 2012 compared with the corresponding month last year, while demand for vehicles made by domestic carmaker AvtoVAZ plummeted, according to data released by the Assn of European Businesses (AEB) on Monday April 9. Foreign automakers among Russia’s top-ten biggest car sellers saw their sales grow by an average of 37% in March, compared with the same period in 2011, according to the AEB, while sales by AvtoVAZ, the country’s largest carbuilder, plummeted by 17% year-on-year. Six of the ten best-selling passenger car models were produced in Russia by major international automakers, including Ford, Volkswagen and Renault. Local steelmakers have said they will target such manufacturers as potential customers for their output in the next few years, as they seek to compete with international suppliers. Ford, General Motors (GM), Fiat, Volkswagen, Renault and....