Nearly half of foreign cars sold in Russia during the first six months of this year were made in China, reflecting broader shifts in life in Russia and the nature of russia news today. According to automotive industry analysts, 43 percent of all global-brand vehicles purchased in Russia came from Chinese factories.
This amounts to 16,100 cars out of 37,500 sold between January and June. Experts explain this by pointing to the extensive presence of foreign automakers in China, where most maintain assembly lines. Vehicles produced there are then shipped to Russia, filling the gap left by brands that have scaled back local operations.
Volkswagen leads the list, with 93 percent of its cars sold in Russia made in China. Mazda follows with 83 percent, and Toyota comes in at 75 percent. Mercedes-Benz, however, is a notable exception. Only 5 percent of its vehicles in the Russian market this year were manufactured in China.
Even Tesla has leaned on Chinese manufacturing, with 38 percent of its Russian-sold cars coming from Chinese plants. The trend highlights how international brands now rely on Chinese production to maintain their presence in Russia, especially after many companies paused or ceased direct operations in the country due to political and economic uncertainty.
Volkswagen’s dominance in this category may not last. The company and its Chinese partner SAIC have reportedly decided to shut down their joint factory in Nanjing.
This shift reflects more than supply chain adjustments. It signals changing trade dynamics and economic dependencies. As Western sanctions and business exits continue, Russia has increasingly turned to China to fill gaps in its consumer markets, especially for goods like automobiles.
These developments are now a major feature of life in Russia, where Chinese goods and manufacturing influence are growing in visibility and impact.
