Dealers believe that the increase in foreign currency rates will inevitably lead to changes in the cost of cars in Russia.
Nikolai Ivanov, Director of the New Cars Department at Rolf, stated that the weakening of the ruble, especially against the backdrop of the rising dollar, could lead to a "reactive response" in car prices. This will particularly affect cars supplied to Russia through parallel imports, where a sharp change in exchange rates can immediately affect prices.
According to Ivanov, even cars that are already in stock may become more expensive. He advised those planning to buy a car not to postpone it, as stocks at old prices still exist, but they will be quickly depleted. He notes that dealers are still willing to sell cars at old prices, but this is a temporary measure.
Anastasia Baibarosha, Head of the Department for Working with Representative Offices of Passenger Vehicles at Alfa-Leasing Group, confirmed that the fall of the ruble will affect the cost of cars. She pointed to a possible shortage of currency in the domestic market, which could lead to higher car prices, not only because of the expensive dollar but also because of the strengthening yuan. Baibarosha noted that official distributors will try to restrain price increases through special offers, but overall, an increase in car prices is inevitable.
If the ruble continues to fall, the cost of imported goods may increase by 10–15%, especially in the premium segment. European cars imported through unofficial channels will become significantly more expensive, which may reduce the profitability of their import, especially after the introduction of a new recycling fee and an increase in the key rate.
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