OREANDA-NEWS. According to the Association of European Businesses, sales of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in October fell by 38.5% to 129,958 vehicles. For the first ten months of 2015 the Russian car market fell by 33.6% to 1 million 322 thousand 681 vehicles.

According to the AEB, after a brief respite in August and September the rate of market decline accelerated again in October. The main reason for the trend reversal is the current stable exchange rate, a sudden drop in August of which led to an increase in sales at expense of future periods. It is not enough buyers, who made their choice at that time. Moreover, the suspension of government programs to support recycling and trade-in that was launched in September of the last year, had a negative impact on retail sales, noted in the association. According to the latest forecast of the AEB, in 2015 the Russian car market will be 1.57 million cars, which is less by 37% than the last year.

Leadership in the Russian market is kept by AVTOVAZ, which sold in the last month 20,592 cars, which is less by 46% than a year ago. In the second place in terms of sales there is KIA – sales of 14,422 cars (-17%) provided the Korean brand with the leadership in the market of foreign cars. The third place is still ranked by Hyundai with 14,145 sold vehicles (-8%). Then Renault comes - cars of this brand were chosen by 10816 (-35%) buyers. This time Volkswagen closes the "top five" of leaders, which has sold 6927 cars (-26%). The top-10 of best-selling brands at the end of October also included Toyota (6688 units, -48%), Nissan (6090 units, -49%), UAZ (5270 units, -23%), GAZ (4844 units, -26%) and Skoda (4615 units, -38%).