According to preliminary data issued by ASM Holding which monitors Russia's auto industry, in the first five months of this year the country's auto output saw an increase of 61.2 percent year on year to 438,570 units, further cementing the recovery of this crisis-hit sector.
Accordingly, in January-May 2010, Russia's passenger car output went up by 65.3 percent to 381,560 units, its truck output increased by 41.7 percent to 44,510 units, while its bus output rose by 26.6 percent to 12,710 units, all compared to the same period last year.
During the period in question, the output of foreign brands produced in Russia increased by 78 percent year on year to 206,400 units.
Meanwhile, the output of Russian domestic brands increased in January-May by 52.6 percent year on year to 175,200 units. The leader among the Russian car producers remained AvtoVAZ, which increased its output by 58.2 percent year on year to 168,100 cars for the period in question.
Russia's new car sales, however, declined by seven percent in January-May, ASM said, to 568,100 units, which is a slightly steeper decline than the five percent drop reported earlier by the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee (AEB AMC).
"Demand is growing not only in the budget car segment, but in the premium segment as well...Sales of one- and two-year old used cars have also been revived. The decision taken by the government with regard to extending the scrapping program has also increased the optimism of consumers," AEB AMC's vice chairman Martin Jahn said, adding that in the future the company expects the positive trend to continue and the market recovery to speed up.