OREANDA-NEWS  In January-November, 221,300 used passenger cars were imported to Russia, Vedomosti writes with reference to the data of Passport Industrial Consulting (a joint venture of Autostat and the operator of electronic PTS).

The import of used cars soared by 82 percent compared to the same period last year. In customs statistics, a vehicle with mileage is considered to be a vehicle older than three years. More than 90 percent of such cars in the past and this year were imported from Japan.

"We see an increase in interest in "Japanese women" in the central regions of the country, where right-hand drive cars were not particularly popular before. The import of right—hand drive cars may well compete with automakers who have left the market, provided that the exchange rate will remain at the current level," said Alexey Grishin, an analyst at Droma.

Earlier it was reported that Vladivostok customs officers issued 78,460 cars imported by individuals in seven months of this year. They recorded an increase of 33 percent compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Russians this year began to take out loans more often to buy cars of Japanese and Korean brands with mileage.