OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2009. Russia’s passenger car and LCV sales sank 56% in June, according to data from the Association of European Businesses (AEB). In the first half of 2009 auto sales slumped 49% against the same period of 2008. The sharpest decline on the market was recorded in May when auto manufacturers sold 119,376 vehicles in Russia or 58% less than in May 2008.

Earlier, the Russian Industry Ministry disclosed its forecast for the state of the automotive market, which showed that auto sales could drop 60% by the end of the year. “H109 numbers reveal that the Russian automotive market needs powerful and broad state support,” Vice Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee Martin Jahn commented on a statement.