MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) – As many as 52,800 new automobiles were sold in Belarus in 2018, 54% up from 2017, BelTA learned from Dmitry Yarota, a member of the Board of the Belarusian Automobile Association (BAA).
The top-selling brands in 2018 included Renault (11,300), Lada (10,400), Volkswagen (6,900), Geely (3,300), and Ford (1,100). The most popular models were Lada Vesta, Volkswagen Polo, and Renault Logan. Geely Atlas was the sixth most popular model. In 2018 individuals bought 59% of the new vehicles while corporations bought 41%. The figures were 55% and 45% respectively in 2017.
Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Automobile Association Sergei Mikhnevich noted that the increase in sales in 2018 is a historic high for official automobile retailers in Belarus. He attributed the increase to favorable loan terms available to Belarusians. “Buying a new car became more advantageous than buying a used one,” he said. “The threshold of five new automobiles per 1,000 residents was crossed for the first time in Belarus. Nevertheless, automobile markets with such figures are young ones. Developed markets demonstrate figures starting with 30 new automobiles per 1,000 residents. There is a potential for growth on our market.”
According to Sergei Mikhnevich, on the average prices for new automobiles rose insignificantly in Belarusian rubles and U.S. dollars while prices in Russian rubles rose by more than 10%. “Russian manufacturers raise their prices in Russian rubles by 6-10% every year depending on the brand. As for cars, which are made outside the Eurasian Economic Union, go through customs procedures in Russia, and are made available in exchange for Russian rubles, they are susceptible to price changes, too,” added Sergei Mikhnevich.
The Belarusian Automobile Association is a not-for-profit association of legal persons, who are authorized by automobile manufacturers to present the brands they make. The association focuses on helping create a civilized and dynamically developing automobile market in Belarus.
