Chinese Cars Are Unsuitable for Russian Conditions 0 12

More than 500 car dealerships have ceased operations in Russia since the beginning of 2025. Chinese brands have become the leaders in terms of closures, according to media reports.

According to experts, in the first nine months, the number of car sales points decreased to 4036. 513 new showrooms opened, but 638 closed. Thus, the total number of auto centers in the country decreased by 125.

Primarily, Chinese car dealerships are closing — from January to September, 491 sales points stopped operating, while 403 locations opened. Thus, 77% of all closed dealerships are Chinese.

"Dealers are investing more in brands that have only recently gained official status in Russia (Li Auto, Avatr, and Rox) or those that provide stable earnings and have available franchises (Haval Pro, Changan, Chery, and Foton)," market analysts said.

As of the end of September, there were 4036 car dealerships operating in Russia, about 2600 of which were representations of Chinese brands. However, the leader in terms of openings was not the 'Chinese' brands, but the domestic brand Solaris, under which Korean cars are produced: +54 showrooms in nine months. Following was the Korean KGM (+43), and only in third place was the brand from China — Li Auto (+35).

The main concerns among specialists and buyers of Chinese cars revolve around the body. Russians still remember stories about the purchase of brand new Lifan, Chery, and Brilliance cars, which after three to five years were covered with rusty 'pimples' and rotted through. However, these were entirely different 'Chinese' cars — without galvanization and special preparation for Russian operating conditions. Modern cars from China are much better prepared for the Russian winter, but it has not been possible to completely dispel concerns yet: too little time has passed since their operation began to draw full conclusions.

"The key problem is the quality of the metal. Everything related to corrosion is a scourge for such cars. We see that they rot, even new ones. In the 3–5–7 year timeframe, this is inevitable and will have a very painful impact on the condition of the body and the price of the car. I fear that we will see a significant problem here," said Anton Shaparin, Vice President of the National Automobile Union.