OREANDA-NEWS. According to the Association of European Businesses, sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in August were down by 19.4% to 138,670 vehicles. At the end of eight months of 2015 the Russian car market fell by 33.5% to 1 million 051 thousand 851 vehicles.

According to the AEB, the rate of decline in sales compared to the previous year showed a further slowdown in August that presumes the approach of market to equilibrium at the new lower level. However, it cannot happen too fast, as the exchange rate fluctuations have a strong influence on the behavior of current customers and the demand for products with high price, such as cars. The recent sharp weakening of the ruble will ensure that the market will see an immediate increase in sales, which later will be followed by a corresponding drop. 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 20,174 cars that is less by 24% than a year ago. KIA is in the second place in terms of sales – sales of 14,081 cars (+ 3%) provided the Korean brand with the leadership in the market of foreign cars. The third place is still occupied by Hyundai with 12,584 sold cars (-6%). Renault is the next - cars of this brand were chosen by 9918 buyers (-20%). Toyota still closes the "top five" leaders, which sold 8892 cars (-30%). The top-10 of best-selling brands at the end of August also included Nissan (6907 units, -38%), Chevrolet (6655 units, -16%), Volkswagen (6627 units, -23%), Ford (4527 units, + 18%) and GAZ (4486 units, -13%).