Overview: LADA Strengthens its Lead as the Market Reshapes
The Russian auto market has evolved noticeably over the past two and a half years. According to expert Oleg Moseev, the landscape now centers on a dominant domestic brand, with several Chinese players rebalancing their positions. Data through August 2025 show LADA at 30.6% of the market, up from 27.3% in 2023, signaling a clear return of the domestic leader to its commanding role.
Top Brands: Who Holds the Pole Position
Haval remains in second place but has ceded ground, dropping from 12.1% in 2024 to 10.5% in 2025. The fight for third is more nuanced, with Chery hovering around 10% and Geely slipping to 8.8% after a strong 2024 performance. This dynamic highlights a market where the top tier is relatively concentrated, yet not monotone: shifts among the leading brands still matter for dealer networks and pricing strategies.
Chinese Brands: Retreat, Rebalance, or Reassert?
Changan experienced a notable deceleration after its 2024 spike to 6.7%, returning closer to the 4.5% level in 2025. Jetour, by contrast, has demonstrated robust growth, rising from 0.8% in 2023 to 3.2% in 2025, positioning itself as one of the fastest-growing players. This contrast illustrates how some Chinese brands are consolidating gains while others recalibrate after rapid expansion.
Niche Segments and the Quiet Contenders
In smaller segments, Omoda and Exeed each sit around 4%, while Tank has eased to about 1.4%. Moskvich remains a niche but steady presence at roughly 1.3–1.5%, illustrating how legacy brands navigate a modern market. JAC and Kaiyi continue to hold under 1%, staying within the bounds of statistical fluctuation rather than breaking into the main drive.
What This Means for the Market
The overall picture is one of growing interest in LADA, paired with a partial retreat of several Chinese players, especially Geely and Changan. Yet newer entrants—Jetour, Omoda, Exeed—are expanding their shares, underscoring long-term ambitions to establish themselves beyond niche status in the Russian market.
Implications for Strategy and Outlook
For manufacturers and dealers, the current structure emphasizes stability and value. Consumers increasingly weigh price, reliability, and after-sales networks, factors that favor an established domestic brand like LADA while giving room for carefully positioned Chinese models that offer compelling propositions. Oleg Moseev’s analysis suggests the trend could persist: LADA may maintain its leadership, while Jetour, Omoda, and Exeed push higher as credible alternatives rather than fleeting entrants. The competitive balance hinges on production continuity, price discipline, and service coverage across Russia’s vast territory.
