Patience Required: Imported Car Wait Times Grow as Demand Surges

Russian buyers should brace for longer waits on imported vehicles, though experts say the delays are temporary. Anton Gureev, commercial director at Interleasing Group, told Rossiyskaya Gazeta that the bottleneck isn't at border crossings—it's a broader overload across every transport route used to bring cars into the country.

The crunch comes as demand for used cars has jumped more than 15 percent, piling extra pressure on supply chains. At the same time, new car shipments from China and Kyrgyzstan surged 25 percent in the first half of the year. "Parallel imports are working effectively," Gureev explained, but dealers now face a tough choice: pass rising costs to buyers—pushing prices even higher—or accept thinner profit margins. Either way, customers waiting for a vehicle from abroad can expect delays.

Still, Gureev doesn't see a major hit to overall sales, noting Russia produces "enough cars" domestically. Yuri Chistov, development director at dealer network Fresh, added that transport costs aren't the main factor in final price tags. He pointed to plenty of 2024 and 2025 models already on lots and urged shoppers to stay calm—just broaden their search. Meanwhile, a preliminary list emerged in Germany suggesting Volkswagen Group may cut models from Volkswagen, Skoda, Cupra, Audi, and Porsche as part of a cost-saving drive, though nothing is confirmed.