Crossovers in Russia have grown in price by 60% in five years
The basic versions of the most popular crossovers of foreign brands in the Russian market from September 2016 to the beginning of autumn 2021 have risen in price by 50-60%, the analytical agency Avtostat calculated. The best-selling cars in Russia are Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and Volkswagen Tiguan.
The cost of Hyundai Creta, the best-selling crossover in Russia, has grown by 60% in five years – from 775 thousand rubles. rubles to 1.2 million rubles. This year, Creta changed a generation in 2021 – a new version, which, however, has remained the same power units.
Renault Duster and Toyota RAV4 have risen in price by the same 60% over five years, despite the fact that these models are in different price segments. The price of RAV4 increased over this period from 1.3 to 2.1 million rubles.
The basic version of Renault Duster with a 1.6 engine, five-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive in September 2016 could be ordered for 629 thousand rubles. rubles, now a car with similar units of the proposed minimum for 1,017 thousand rubles. rubles.
Moreover, in fact, a crossover at this price is unlikely to work: the Moscow plant “Renault Russia” delays shipment of finished cars at least until the end of October due to the lack of electronic components, previously posted by Gazeta.Ru. Now orders for the basic version of the crossover are accepted only at the end of November.
One of the French brands in Moscow, where the Gazeta.Ru correspondent asked about the possibility of purchasing Duster in the minimum configuration, using a car for 1,383 thousand rubles. rubles with delivery in late November or early December when paying in cash.
The overpayment in comparison with the recommended retail price was 350 thousand rubles. rubles.
“This is the price of the car in factory form, without additional equipment,” said the sales manager.
The prices for cars available from dealers are even higher: an official Hyundai dealer will buy a new Creta in a poor Classic configuration, with a 1.6 engine, automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, for 1.8 million rubles – an overpayment of 480 thousand rubles. rubles in comparison with the manufacturer’s recommended price.
At the same time, the car is equipped with a standard set of dealer options, including additional anti-corrosion treatment of wheel arches, installation of a crankcase protection, alarm, floor and trunk mats.
Amid a shortage of cars due to the semiconductor crisis, the actual prices of cars have gone far from the recommended values. For example, according to Avtostat, the weighted average price of RAV4 as of September is 2.7 million rubles, Volkswagen Tiguan – 2.6 million rubles, Kia Sportage – 2 million rubles.
No reduction in prices for new cars, or at least their stabilization in the near future, is expected – in addition to the semiconductor crisis, the complication of their design, a shortage of components and fluctuations in exchange rates lead to a rise in the price of cars, experts explain.
“I think that prices will continue to rise, although probably not as fast as in the first half of the year. There are many factors for this: normal inflation, rise in prices for auto components and metals. Of the short-term factors, one can name a long-term shortage of cars, – says to Gazeta.Ru, an analyst at VTB Capital for the auto industry, Vladimir Bespalov, – from specifically Russian factors, one can also name the volatility of the ruble.
The fluctuations in exchange rates are most strongly reflected in imported cars.
the expert notes. This also applies to the second, third-tier suppliers providing raw materials for auto components.
“Forecasts for a shortage of cars are now very different: some market participants say that the problem may remain unresolved even in 2023. I also believe that in 2023 there may still be a shortage of semiconductors, “Bespalov concludes.
And Russian motorists themselves expect the price situation to deteriorate. According to the poll of the autoclassified “Avto.ru”, such fears are expressed by 76% of respondents. More than half of the respondents hope for a strong decline in sales.
“The third quarter of 2021 was not successful for the Russian automotive market. Sales of new cars have been falling for two months in a row, but dealers associate such results with a shortage of cars, and not with a fading demand, – Alexey Mukhanov, head of research and client analytics at Avto.ru, told Gazeta.Ru. deliveries of electronic components to car factories are still preserved, and the time frame for improving the situation has been shifted to 2023 ”.