Car market in Ukraine could expand by no more than 9% in 2013

Sales of new passenger cars in Ukraine in 2013 could reach 230,000-240,000 cars, and this year it is anticipated that 210,000-220,000 passenger cars will be sold, Sales Vice President of UkrAVTO Corporation Vakhtanh Vasadze said at a press conference as a part of the opening of the Stolychne Autoshow 2012 in Kyiv on September 7, 2012.

"Over the first eight months of 2012 the car market grew only by 5.1%. This is not what we expected, so the sales forecast for this year is 210,000-220,000 cars [in 2011 220,620 passenger cars were sold in Ukraine, a rise of 36% year-over-year], taking into account the present situation, while next year it is expected that no more than 230,000-240,000 cars will be sold," he said.

Commenting on the state of the car market this year, Honorable President of UkrAVTO Corporation Tariel Vasadze said that unfortunately the market is now in a phase of stagnation, and certain problems on the market are stalling the development of the automotive sector.

As reported, market experts worsened their forecasts for car sales for 2012: the market could grow by no more than 9-13% compared to 2011, instead of the earlier predicted 20-25%, and if imports duties are introduced, it could fall by 10%.