In September 2026, Russians registered 122,771 new passenger cars. After recalculating the data, the market, instead of falling, showed a symbolic growth of 0.1% compared to September 2025. The updated statistics were published on October 12 by the joint venture of the analytical agency Avtostat and the electronic passport system.
As of October 6, analysts reported 115,060 registered cars and a 6% decrease in sales. Later, data that arrived with a delay was added to the statistics. As a result, the estimate for September sales increased by 7,711 cars.
At the same time, among the ten most popular car brands, three ended September with a drop in sales compared to last year. For some brands, on the contrary, indicators grew several times, but this is largely explained by a low comparison base.
Lada remained the leader of the Russian market. In September, AvtoVAZ car sales grew by 15% year-on-year, to 30,282 cars. Haval took second place with a result of 14,252 cars, but its sales decreased by 15%.
Tenet came in third. This brand sells cars related to the Chery model range. The brand appeared on the Russian market about a year ago, so the comparison with September 2025 gives a particularly noticeable result: sales grew fivefold, to 13,437 cars.
Geely took fourth place, but lost almost a third of sales, selling 6,734 cars. Changan closed the top five leaders. Its result was 6,498 cars, which is 11% more than a year earlier.
The second five popular brands included Chinese brands, the Russian Jeland, as well as Mazda and Toyota. The latter two brands are mainly imported to Russia from China without the permission of the copyright holders, according to Vedomosti. Mazda sales grew fourfold, to 3,382 cars, and Toyota added 1%, to 3,351 cars.
Separately, Avtostat estimated sales for the first nine months of 2026. According to Vedomosti, 967,770 new passenger cars were registered in Russia from January to September. This is 7.9% more than in the same period last year.
Experts commented on the situation in the car market
Buyers are more carefully comparing prices, loan terms, maintenance costs, and future resale value. The high rejection rate for car loan applications also forces some customers to abandon the purchase of a new car or choose a used car, market participants emphasize.
Further dynamics will depend on buyers' willingness to spend money and the availability of loans. According to the forecast of Avilon Marketing Director Yuri Blinov, cited by Vedomosti, sales in October could amount to 110,000–115,000 new passenger cars. By the end of 2026, he expects the market to be at the level of 1.3–1.35 million cars. A similar forecast was previously presented by Avtostat Director Sergey Tselikov.