Overview: LADA Expands Its Dominance in Russia’s Auto Market
The Russian automotive market has undergone notable restructuring over the past two and a half years. Analyst Олег Мосеев examined the major brands with a stable presence in the country and traced how the market’s leadership and composition have shifted. The big takeaway is clear: LADA remains the dominant force, while Chinese brands recalibrate their positions, and a few niche players begin to punch above their weight.
LADA’s Continual Rise: A Return to Domination
LADA’s share has grown from 27.3% in 2023 to 30.6% by the first eight months of 2025. This uptick isn’t a one-off blip; it signals a durable rebound of the domestic brand in the Russian market. The re-emergence of a locally resilient product lineup, backed by an expanding dealer network and pricing that customers find appealing amid macroeconomic pressures, has solidified LADA’s position at the top. The data suggest a continued preference for familiar aftersales support and the perceived value of locally produced models in a market sensitive to total cost of ownership.
Chinese Brands: Mixed Fortunes Amid a Shifting Landscape
Chinese automakers have been a defining feature of the Russian market in recent years. The current snapshot shows a split trend where some brands hold steady while others retreat slightly as the market matures and consumer choices evolve.
Haval: Holding Ground, Yet Softening
Haval remains a strong second in the overall ranking, but its share has slid from 12.1% in 2024 to about 10.5% in 2025. The decline reflects intensified competition and a shift in consumer demand, even as Haval maintains a robust dealer network and a steady stream of new models.
Chery and Geely: Competing for Third Place
Chery continues to hover around the 10% mark, while Geely rose to 9.5% in 2024 and has eased to around 8.8% in 2025. This pairing remains a focal point of the market’s evolution: both brands are investing in product breadth and distribution, but the gap behind LADA remains sizable.
Changan and Jetour: Divergent Growth Paths
Changan retraced to 4.5% in 2025 after a jump to 6.7% in 2024, indicating a cooling of momentum. Jetour, in contrast, has surged from 0.8% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2025, becoming one of the fastest-growing brands in the Russian market and signaling ambitious expansion plans for the near term.
Other Brands and Niches: The Small Yet Notable Players
Among the niche players, Omoda and Exeed have each reached around 4% of the market, highlighting a successful penetration strategy for newer lines. Tank has softened slightly to about 1.4%. Moscvich settles in a narrow band of roughly 1.3–1.5%, a sign of modest stability in a market with ongoing upheaval. JAC and Kaiyi remain under 1%, effectively within the margin of statistical fluctuation but still watched as potential long-run entrants.
What This Means for the Russian Auto Market
The overall picture is a market that rewards the perceived value and reliability of a domestic leader while showcasing selective appetite for Chinese brands with growth potential. LADA’s expanding share underscores how a homegrown product line adapted to current consumer needs can outperform imports in times of economic pressure. At the same time, Jetour, Omoda, and Exeed demonstrate that new entrants can gain traction through targeted models, improved availability, and stronger aftersales networks.
Looking Ahead: Roadmap for 2025–2026
Key uncertainties remain, including consumer confidence, price dynamics, and the pace of model updates across the leading brands. If LADA sustains its momentum and Jetour, Omoda, and Exeed continue to scale, the market could see a further narrowing of the gap behind the leader. Chinese brands might push back with new generations and localized incentives, while Geely and Changan will need to accelerate growth to regain earlier trajectories. The next 12–18 months will be crucial in validating whether the current shifts represent a temporary realignment or the start of a longer-term restructuring of Russia’s auto landscape.
