Car import ban? Russians have their own ways
Luxury cars, despite EU and British sanctions, still end up in Russia. Although not directly, Russians are still finding ways to import European vehicles to their country, not just Chinese ones.
The situation was described in detail by Sky News journalists who went to the Caucasus. This is because it is there (including Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan) that luxury vehicles from brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Range Rover and Mercedes are delivered. From there it’s a straight path to the Russian Federation. Local authorities and traders do not hide this practice, even though Georgia has formally introduced export bans to Russia.
Car exports around to Russia. How does it work?
One way to transport such a vehicle to Russia is to register it and clear customs in Armenia. Sometimes carriers are suggested to say that they only transport cars through Russia to Kyrgyzstan. “Let’s be honest: everyone understands perfectly well that this car will enter Russia and stay there,” one of the Russian YouTubers said in an interview with Sky News.
The cars receive transit license plates, thanks to which you can travel from Georgia to Russia. Georgian citizens can travel to Russia without visas. So, all you have to do is drive such a vehicle into Russia, where it will be picked up by another person, and that’s how the whole process goes.
Sky News journalists also use clear statistics. Since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, British car exports to Russia have plummeted. In turn, at exactly the same time, the export of their domestic vehicles to the former republics of the USSR skyrocketed. We are talking specifically about Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia.
Car export to Russia. China is the leader
Exports of Chinese cars to Russia increased significantly after the start of the war in Ukraine and the withdrawal of Western manufacturers from the Russian market. In 2023, China became the largest supplier of cars to Russia, sending 841,000. vehicles between January and November. This is a fivefold increase compared to the previous year. The value of Chinese car exports in April 2023 alone amounted to almost $1 billion.
Chinese brands such as Chery, Haval and Geely dominate the Russian market, taking six of the top ten places in the Russian car sales ranking in 2023. Sales of these brands increased by more than 200%. year to year. As a result, Chinese cars now account for about 40 percent. new cars sold in Russia, which is a huge jump from less than 10 percent. before the war.
