OREANDA-NEWS. According to the Association of European Businesses, sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia by the end of June were down by 29.7% to 140,161 cars. By the results of six months of 2015 the Russian car market fell by 36.4% to 782,094 vehicles.

According to the AEB, the market decline in June of the last year was less dramatic than in previous months, but there is no reason to relax. Without lowering of the key rate of the Central Bank and government stimulate programs for new vehicles, the situation could be even worse in the auto market, noted in the association. Meanwhile, the mood of market participants for the second half remains cautious. In this regard, the AEB has lowered its forecast for 2015, according to which the Russian car market will be 1.55 million vehicles; it is less by 36% than the last year. The previous forecast of AEB presumed the fall by 24% to 1.89 million vehicles.

Leadership in the Russian market is kept by AVTOVAZ, which sold in the last month 26,416 cars, which is less by 12% than a year ago. KIA returned to the second place by sales - 13928 sold cars (-18%) provided the Korean brand with the leadership in the market of foreign cars. Thus, Hyundai fell to the third place with indicator of 12289 of sold cars (-27%). Next comes the Renault - cars of this brand were chosen by 9986 buyers (-39%). Nissan continues to close the "top five" of leaders, it was sold 8916 cars (-26%). The top-10 of best-selling brands at the end of June also included Toyota (8495 units, -35%), Volkswagen (6769 units, -38%), GAZ (6115 units, -1%), Chevrolet (4712 units, -40%) and Skoda (4405 units, -44%).