In the first half of 2008, Russia for the first time displaced Germany to become the largest car market in Europe, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. Russian new-car registrations hit 1.64 million during the first half of 2008, compared with 1.63 million cars in Germany.
Sales for 2008 are predicted to hit 3.6 million and 3.8 million vehicles, with the German association predicting sales of 3.2 million units in Germany. Sales are up 41% in the first half of 2008, the report’s authors noted, aided by economic expansion brought on primarily by rising oil revenue.
A list of the top-10 best-selling cars and light trucks in Russia for 2007 is available at www.sema.org/international.