Import of passenger cars to Russia decreased in three times in the first quarter

On totals of processing of customs data, the specialists of the analytic agency �AUTOSTAT� got the information that in March of this year there were imported 63917 of passenger cars of different makes to Russia � this is almost by 17% more than in February (54776 units) and exceeds the total of January in two times (29832 units). But even despite the positive dynamics at the Russian market, there are not much occasions to be optimistic. So, the sales of passenger cars on totals of the last quarter reduced by 40% against the results of 2008, the import fell practically in two times � from 432 thsd cars to 149 thsd units.
The fall of import of second hand cars kept on decreasing: on totals of March their share in the total volume of import constituted only 0, 86%. In total, according to estimation of the analytic agency �AUTOSTAT�, during the first quarter there were imported to 4, 4 thsd cars at the age older than 3 years. So, the majority of imported passenger cars, imported to Russia, are new ones. In March the majority of technics was of model�s year 2008 - over 56% from the total volume of import accounted on this amount. We should also note that the previous two months this index was even higher.
The leaders of make structure of import in March was Nissan (11122 units), Kia (8802 units) and Chevrolet (7131 units): over 42, 5% from all imported cars accounted on them. The TOP � 10 of the leaders also includes Toyota, Daewoo, Peugeot, Ford, Mazda, Hyundai and Honda. You can find information about this structure of import of passenger cars for March and for the first quarter of 2009 in third editions of the �Monthly overview of the automotive market of Russia�.