Sales of passenger cars in Russia fell by 40% in the first quarter

According to data, represented by the Association of the European Businesses, in March 2009 the sales of passenger cars and of light commercial transport decreased to the level of the last year by 47% until 135446 cars. So, during the first quarter the official dealers bought 387843 of new cars in Russia, which is by 40% less than for the first three months of 2008.
The following foreign and domestic brands (out of big number of brands at the market) had positive dynamics at the end of month: Volkswagen (+44% and 4066 cars), Citroen (+13% and 1026 cars), Cadillac (+51% and 265 units), Infiniti (+55% and 614 cars) and Hummer (+89% and 153 of sold SUVs). On totals of the first quarter the volumes of sales of leaders of the market (Lada, Chevrolet and Ford) decreased on average by 30 � 40 % against the first three months of the last year and constituted 88720, 30268 and 29956 cars.
The most popular models at the Russian market in the first quarter were Lada models; they occupy all first three lines of the rating. Among foreign cars especially popular were: Ford Focus and Renault Logan. Their realization constituted 17742 and 9668 cars during the first three months.