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Today's News Test Drives

TODAY'S TOP NEWS

Volkswagen Factory
October 22, 2025

Volkswagen Plans to Close Three Factories in Germany

Volkswagen Group has announced plans to close three production facilities in Germany for the first time in the company's 87-year history. The decision is related to falling demand for electric vehicles in Europe and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers.

According to VW management, the company is facing excess capacity of 500,000 vehicles per year. The IG Metall trade union has already called the plans "catastrophic" and threatened strikes.

Our Analysis:

This is the first case of mass factory closures by a European automotive giant since 2008. Experts predict a wave of restructuring in the industry — Mercedes-Benz and BMW may follow VW's example in 2026.

Read Full Article
LADA Vesta NG
October 21, 2025

Russia Starts Sales of Updated LADA Vesta NG 2025

AvtoVAZ has started accepting orders for the new generation restyled Vesta with prices starting from 1.59 million rubles.

Read Full Article

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Testing LADA Vesta

LADA Vesta NG 2025 Test Drive: A Worthy Competitor to Chinese Sedans

We tested a pre-production model at the proving ground in Togliatti. Here are our first impressions:

Pros:

  • Significantly improved sound insulation
  • New suspension better absorbs bumps
  • Interior material quality on par with KIA Rio

Cons:

  • Price increased by 15% compared to previous generation
  • 6-speed "robot" still hesitant in traffic jams
  • Base version has sparse equipment

Verdict:

A worthy competitor to Chinese sedans in the 1.5-1.8 million ruble price range, but no longer a "people's car".

Full LADA Vesta NG Test Drive

MARKET ANALYSIS

New Car Sales in Russia: September 2025

According to Autostat, 143,782 new passenger cars were sold in Russia in September 2025 — 7% less than in September 2024. This is the fourth consecutive month of declining sales.

What's Happening:

Chinese brands continue to increase their market share (already 48%), while Korean brands are losing positions due to leaving parallel imports. LADA maintains leadership, but with a minimal margin.

2025 Forecast:

  • Total market volume: 1.55-1.6 million vehicles (below initial forecast)
  • Chinese brands' share: 50-52%
  • Average transaction price: 2.8 million rubles (+12% year-over-year)
Total September Sales
143,782
-7% vs. 2024
Leader
LADA
32,450 vehicles
Average Price
2.8M ₽
+12% vs. 2024

Top-10 Bestsellers: September 2025

Rank Model Sales Change vs. Sept 2024 Starting Price
1 LADA Granta 18,342 -5% 820,000 ₽
2 Haval Jolion 12,156 +23% 1,999,000 ₽
3 LADA Vesta 11,234 -12% 1,120,000 ₽
4 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 9,887 +41% 2,399,000 ₽
5 Geely Coolray 8,765 +18% 1,899,000 ₽
6 Haval F7 6,223 +9% 2,299,000 ₽
7 LADA Niva Legend 5,891 0% 985,000 ₽
8 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 5,004 +35% 1,899,000 ₽
9 Geely Monjaro 3,269 +17% 2,599,000 ₽
10 GAC GS8 2,983 New model 3,499,000 ₽

LATEST TEST DRIVES

Haval F7
October 20, 2025

Haval F7 2025: The Most Popular Chinese Crossover

We spent a week with the updated Haval F7. Is it still worth buying in 2025?

8.5/10
15 min read
Read Test Drive
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max
October 18, 2025

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max: 7 Seats for the Family

Tested the flagship SUV from Chery. Is it worth 3 million rubles?

9.0/10
18 min read
Read Test Drive
Geely Monjaro
October 15, 2025

Geely Monjaro: Premium from China

A detailed test of the flagship crossover that claims premium status.

8.8/10
20 min read
Read Test Drive
All Test Drives

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

EV Market in Russia: October 2025 Review

Electric vehicles continue to gain popularity in Russia. In the first nine months of 2025, 18,234 electric cars were sold — 156% more than in the same period of 2024.

Key Trends:

  • Chinese brands dominate the market (87% share)
  • Charging infrastructure growth: +432 stations in 9 months
  • Average EV price decreased to 4.2 million rubles
  • Moscow remains the leader: 43% of all EV sales

Top-5 Most Popular Electric Cars:

Zeekr 001 3,887 units
BYD Han 2,654 units
Voyah Free 1,998 units
Li Auto L9 1,765 units
Hongqi E-HS9 1,432 units
Total EV Sales
18,234
+156% vs. 2024
Market Share
1.2%
+0.5 pp
Charging Stations
2,847
Across Russia
BYD Factory
October 19, 2025

BYD to Build Plant in Russia

The Chinese company announced plans to build a production facility with a capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year.

Read Details
Charging station
October 17, 2025

New Charging Stations at Gas Stations

Major fuel companies begin installing fast charging stations (150 kW) at their networks.

Read Details

OUR EXPERTS

Dmitry Petrov

Dmitry Petrov

Editor-in-Chief, Test Drive Specialist

"Volkswagen's factory closures are just the beginning. European automakers must either adapt to the new realities or cede the market to Asian competitors. The question is not if, but when."

156 articles
12 years in industry
Anna Sokolova

Anna Sokolova

Market Analyst, Economic Expert

"The average car price in Russia has surpassed 2.8 million rubles for the first time in history. This is not just inflation — it's a structural transformation of the market towards more expensive and technology-rich models."

203 articles
8 years in analytics
Alexei Volkov

Alexei Volkov

Technical Consultant, Former Engineer

"The new LADA Vesta NG is really a step forward, but one wishes the engineers paid more attention to reliability. Chinese competitors are already superior not only in equipment but also in build quality."

89 articles
15 years in automotive industry

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