In February last year, the AGR group of companies (AGR Automotive Group) launched a new brand on the Russian market. Production began at the former Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg: Solaris HS and HC (renamed Hyundai Solaris and Creta, respectively), as well as Solaris KRS and KRX (Kia Rio and Rio X) entered the production line. In less than a year, almost 22 thousand cars were produced.
Sales of Solaris started in March last year. In 10 months, AGR managed to sell 19,243 cars of the new brand. About 23 percent of cars were purchased by corporate clients.
According to the company’s own estimates, it managed to maintain third place in the country in sedan sales.
By the end of the year, the Solaris dealer network included 90 sales and service centers. The largest number of DCs are in the Central, Volga and Southern Federal Districts.
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Solaris cars are assembled in a full cycle from components remaining at the enterprise after the departure of the South Korean manufacturer. They are distinguished from the original Hyundai and Kia by emblems in the form of an oval letter S. The price of Solaris HS now starts at 2,020,000 rubles, HC – from 2,650,000. For the KRS they ask for at least 2,060,000 rubles, for the KRX – 2,161,000 rubles.
Since the start of sales, the cars have become more expensive: initially, the Hyundai Solaris analogue in the “base” was estimated at 2,010,000 rubles, Creta – at 2,499,000 rubles, Rio – at 2,038,000, and Rio X – 2,064,000 rubles.
In 2024, more than one and a half million new passenger cars were sold in Russia. This is one and a half times more than in 2023, and the best result since 2019. Lada, Haval, Chery, Geely and Changan sold the most. However, experts predict a decline this year due to an increase in recycling collection, a high key rate and a weak ruble.
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