Russia’s Most Popular Car Brands

Key takeaways

• Russian brand LADA dominates the market with a nearly one-third share, far ahead of any competitor
• However, Chinese automakers collectively hold the majority of the market, accounting for over 40% of total sales

More about LADA

LADA is known for affordable, simple vehicles designed to handle Russia’s harsh road and weather conditions. Its parent company is AvtoVAZ, which is majority-owned by the Russian state through Rostec.

LADA found success in Western Europe during the 1970s-1980s with models like the Niva, a small off-roader. The company withdrew from the market in the 90s as they lost competitiveness, though newer models could still be imported into the UK.

According to a 2023 article by Autocar, imports of the Lada Niva have halted due to sanctions.