In the last month of spring, prices for cars will rise again; in addition, Belarus practically drops out of the “gray” import system, where the authorities have increased the recycling fee for resellers by multiples.
What will happen to the car market?
According to forecasts from the Autostat agency, in April 2026, 115-120 thousand new passenger cars will be sold – 14-17% more than a year earlier (102.1 thousand units). Analysts believe the reason for the growth is the low base of last year.
As the head of the agency, Sergei Tselikov, clarified to Motor magazine, by the end of May the market will most likely show a result at the level of 100-110 thousand units of equipment instead of last year’s 91.2 thousand units. That is, a small but confident rise will continue.
According to long-term statistics, car shipments to customers in May are traditionally worse than in April. This phenomenon is explained by long weekends, which provoke an outflow of potential buyers outside the cities.
Belgee
Parallel import
In May, you can still save on customs duties and taxes when purchasing foreign cars through the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia have more favorable import conditions than Russia.
Let us recall that the Ministry of Industry and Trade planned to introduce a unified formula for calculating the recycling fee for cars imported from the EAEU countries from April 1, but this did not happen. The assumption that the new rule would come into force on May 1 also turned out to be unfounded. The document is still at the approval stage, and the exact date of its entry into force has not been determined.
However, one country – Belarus – is no longer a convenient “transshipment point”. From April 24, 2026, new recycling fee rates will come into force after the official publication of the resolution. The corresponding document was signed by Prime Minister Alexander Turchin.
Motor
For individuals importing one car for personal use, base rates increased by 7%. And for legal entities and those involved in the commercial import of cars for the purpose of resale, including to the market of the Russian Federation, conditions have changed much more radically.
For certain categories of equipment, rates have increased multiple times, which will deal a significant blow to “gray” dealers and resellers who import cars en masse from abroad. It is against this category of importers that the new measure is aimed.
Motor
How car prices will change
Representatives of large dealer holdings state that the Russian car market is now following a trend of slow price increases, and since the beginning of the year prices have already increased by 2-3%.
Similar statistics are provided by the head of the Avtostat agency, Sergei Tselikov: “Average prices are slowly but surely growing. For both new and used cars. The growth is small – 1-2% per month, but it is there.”
The situation has reached an equilibrium state: now there is no need to talk about either a “buyer’s market” (when the client can easily negotiate favorable terms of a deal) or a “seller’s market” (when the dealer can easily raise prices).
Gislaved
When to change tires
There is a misconception widely spread on the Internet that you need to change winter tires to summer tires before May 1st. However, paragraph 5.2 of the “List of faults and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited” (technical regulations TR CU 018/2011) states that tires with anti-skid studs cannot be used only in the summer – June, July, August.
Thus, in May you can drive on studded tires without fear of fines. Moreover, taking into account the weather disasters at the end of April, it can be stated that those who did not have time to switch to summer tires won.
“The composition of summer tires provides optimal performance at temperatures from approximately 7 °C above zero. When the temperature drops to near-zero values, the rubber mixture from which they are made hardens, the properties of natural rubber change, and elasticity decreases,” Oleg Markov, a technical expert at the Cordiant holding, told Motor magazine.
In difficult weather conditions, the expert recommends not traveling in a car that has already been fitted with summer tires, especially if you are planning a long trip. However, it must be taken into account that the law allows local authorities (for example, in Siberia) to introduce local time limits for the use of tires by a separate resolution.
KamAZ
The fight against “black forwarders”
Until May 1, 2026, freight forwarders are required to send a notification to the Ministry of Transport register in order to continue working. Forwarders are those who develop routes, as well as transport, insure or organize customs clearance of goods.
The activities of freight forwarders are now controlled with the participation of the FSB – data about them is transferred to the agency. Work without registration is considered illegal, and for violation of the requirement a fine of up to 1 million rubles is provided (clauses 3 and 4 of Article 11.14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
The new scheme should rid the market of “black forwarders”, that is, companies that provided forwarding services without proper documentation.
Motor
What will be the prices at gas stations?
In May, many motorists open the driving season, plus farmers begin to actively conduct agricultural work. Because of this, stock exchange and then retail prices for gasoline and diesel fuel traditionally rise.
This year, the situation may be complicated by rising oil prices, but the Russian government is using a damper mechanism to compensate oil workers for lost export profits.
Geely Coolray
Geely
What new items will appear in car dealerships?
Sales of the updated Geely Coolray crossover will start in May. The new product features modified bumpers, a larger radiator grille, and additional windows in the rear pillars.
The size of the virtual instruments covered by the visor is now 8.8 inches instead of the previous 10.25. The diagonal of the central touchscreen, on the contrary, has become larger, reaching 14.6 inches (from 12.5).
The BAW (Beijing Automobile Works) brand is “re-entering” the Russian market through a new distributor – Kaihe Automobile Group. Previously, supplies were handled by the company BAW Russia, which worked under a parallel import system.
SUVs will be delivered to Russia under the name BAW 212 T01. The prices of SUVs have already been announced: from 4.4 million rubles for gasoline cars and from 4.7 million rubles for diesel cars.
Anniversary KamAZ-54901
“Sever-Scan”
For the 50th anniversary of the KamAZ automobile plant, a special series of long-haul tractors will be released. What distinguishes the new product from standard cars is the exterior wrapping of the cabin, branded head optics, illuminated radiator grille, and a sun visor. The interior has also been redesigned.
“Read also:”
