Imported cars will become a luxury for Russians by 2030
Russia is forecasting the continued displacement of foreign cars from the market. By 2030, imported cars may become a product for a limited circle of buyers due to high prices and government support for local production.
This was stated by Andrey Petrenko, vice president of the Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD).
According to him, the Russian auto market is increasingly focused on brands that have local production and state support. Among these, he named LADA, Solaris, and Belgee.
Petrenko believes that localizing production reduces dependence on currency fluctuations, customs policies, and changes in import regulations.
At the same time, experts are noting a rapid rise in car prices in Russia. According to data from the analytical agency Autostat, the average price of a new car in the first quarter of 2026 reached 3.79 million rubles, compared to 1.2 million rubles in 2014. Thus, over 12 years, new cars have more than tripled in price.
Prices on the used car market have also risen by more than 200%. Since the end of 2021, AvtoVAZ cars have become 72% more expensive on average, while Chinese models have nearly doubled in price.
Analysts note that the Russian market has already approached the limit of effective demand, and further price increases could further limit the affordability of cars for the population.
In the temporarily occupied Crimea, fuel shortages could escalate into a much more serious crisis. Due to logistical difficulties on the peninsula, prices have already begun to rise, lines are forming, and residents are actively stocking up on essential goods.
The shortage of automotive fuel, previously observed in the temporarily occupied Crimea, has begun to spread to the southern regions of the Russian Federation. Residents of the Krasnodar Krai and the Rostov Oblast are reporting shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel.
