OREANDA-NEWS. According to the Association of European Businesses, sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in July fell by 27.5% to 131,087 vehicles. For the first seven months of 2015 the Russian car market fell by 35.3% to 913,181 vehicles.

According to the AEB, after the total lost of 36% of volume in the first half of the year, the result with a minus of 27.5% in July looks almost like good news. In fact, it is the result of a low base in the corresponding period last year, and the fundamental behavior of the automotive market continues to disappoint, despite the fact that it occurs in terms of unstable economy and declining consumer income. Sales promotion, which is carried out through the tools of the state support, as well as through market participants, has proven to be effective to prevent further falls. However, it should be strengthened significantly in order to reverse the trend in the opposite direction, supposes the association. According to the latest forecast of AEB, in 2015 the Russian car market will be 1.55 million cars, which is less by 36% than the last year.

Leadership in the Russian market is kept by AVTOVAZ, which sold in the last month 20,944 car, which is less by 25% than a year ago. KIA is still in the second place in terms of sales – sales of 13,346 cars (-13%) provided the Korean brand with the leadership in the market of foreign cars. The third place is still occupied by Hyundai with 12,251 sold cars (-15%). Next comes the Renault - cars of the brand were chosen by 9917 buyers (-35%). This time Toyota closes the "top five" of leaders, which sold 9604 cars (-28%). The top-10 of best-selling brands at the end of July also included Chevrolet (6,228 units, -26%), Volkswagen (5,937 units, -34%), Nissan (5,207 units, -43%), UAZ (5,129 units, + 71%) and Skoda (4185 units, -41%).