AvtoVAZ improves 2017 Russia sales forecast to over 300,000 cars

ST. PETERSBURG, Jun 5 (PRIME) -- Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ has improved its 2017 domestic sales forecast to more than 300,000 cars from 280,000–300,000 cars, CEO Nicolas Maure told reporters on June 3 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

“It is possible that (sales in Russia) will be higher than (previously expected), and the figure will start from 300,000 (cars),” he said, adding that the Russian market of cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) may grow by 5–10% this year.

But the company cut its 2017 export forecast by 16.7% to 25,000 cars due to contraction of the Kazakh market.

AvtoVAZ plans to increase the share of export sales to 20% from of about 10%, and is looking at African markets with right-hand driving, but it is too early to speak about plans, he said.

He also said AvtoVAZ plans to maintain prices for cars until the end of the year after it had raised prices for some Lada cars in January.

End %%md/jst%%