St. Petersburg needs new cars, and the city's residents need cheaper cars.
According to analysts, 167.6 billion rubles were invested in the automotive industry in the city - almost 95% of all investments in the industry in the North-West. Authorities expect to produce about 120,000 cars in 2026 and return production in full by 2028.
Shoppers, meanwhile, are voting with their wallets. During nine months, residents of St. Petersburg purchased 152,000 used cars, which is 8.2% more than a year ago. In October, demand added another 6.6% compared to September. The average cost of a used car was 1.5 million rubles, and among the most popular brands were Kia Rio and Ford Focus.
Of course, there is a "retro" trend, but with the demand for cars, things are more complicated. To understand, a brand new Lada costs an average of 1.8 million rubles, and this even takes into account that you will receive a discount. The suffering recycling collection also makes its contribution. For a new car with a 1-2 liter engine and a power of up to 160 hp. with. Now it amounts to 800.8 thousand rubles, and from January 1, 2027 it will increase to 880.8 thousand.
Let's not forget the all-Russian attitude to new domestic cars, which consist of 90% Chinese nameplates. So it turns out that now the most cost-effective way to update your vehicle fleet is to simply wash your old vehicle.