Last year was not easy for Ukraine – and that’s putting it very mildly. But Ukraine persevered! How did the new car market fare? How did 2022 end, what trends emerged during the year, what to expect in the new 2023? Now I will tell you in detail.
Results of 2022 on the car market of Ukraine
The market of new cars in Ukraine fell, but did not disappear. In total, more than 40,000 new passenger cars were sold in 2022, which is 61% less than in 2021. If you add light commercial vehicles (LCV), the total number will be higher, but the market decline will be even more severe: in total, almost 44,400 cars (passenger + commercial) were sold, which is a “minus” of 62% in relation to the indicators of 2021- oh
Results of 2022 for the market of new cars in Ukraine: 40,076 units of new passenger cars were sold in total, 4,285 units of light commercial vehicles (LCV) were sold in total. The market is down more than 60% compared to 2021 results. But an interesting trend is that the last month of 2022 (December) brought an increase of 28% compared to the previous month (according to AUTO-Consulting). But thanks to what?
It seems that thanks to the adjustment of the supply of cars. After all, in general, the history of 2022 for the car market of Ukraine looked like this: a failure in March, the beginning of stabilization in April-May, reaching a certain “plateau” in the summer and early autumn.
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Probably, the growth of the market could be better if it were not for problems with the supply of new batches of cars. After all, during the spring and summer, almost all the cars imported before the start of the full-scale war were bought, but there were no new deliveries: due to the fears of car manufacturers, due to problems with logistics.
In this situation, those who were able to quickly establish supplies won. After all, now most market operators are talking about the resumption of car supplies as a fact that has already happened. The question is only in timing: either at the end of 2022 or at the beginning of 2023. Therefore, the first winter months and the spring of the new year can give another jump in sales. And then – we believe in the Armed Forces and victory!
The most popular cars according to the results of 2022 were Toyota cars: a well-known name, a wide model range, a developed network of dealers worked here – as well as a quick recovery of supplies! In addition, representatives of the Toyota brand worked on the expansion of the model line: the launch of the Toyota RAV4 Adventure, the active sale of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, as well as the entry into the Ukrainian market of cars of the family brand – the new Lexus LX and Lexus NX. The result is expected: during 2022, more than 7,000 Toyota cars (and almost 800 Lexus units) were sold, the Toyota RAV4 crossover being the most popular model.
The second place in the overall ranking of brands is taken by Renault (more than 5,100 cars sold), where the well-known Renault Duster is the bestseller. Next, we should note Volkswagen (3.4 thousand cars sold), SKODA (2.8 thousand), Hyundai (2.6 thousand) – here are the TOP-5 most popular brands on the new car market according to the results of 2022.
Despite the difficult situation, the automotive market of Ukraine received many interesting and important novelties: Nissan Qashqai, Honda HR-V, Lexus NX, Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line, Toyota RAV4 Adventure. All of them should give a strong boost to sales in the near future. And we also managed to meet and talk about such an exclusive as Volvo XC60 Polestar, DS 9, SKODA Enyaq, Nissan Ariya, Citroen Ami Cargo.
By the way, about electric cars. Despite all the problems with electricity (but remember the fuel crisis of the spring of 2022), they find new and new buyers. The most popular electric car according to the results of 2022 was Volkswagen ID.4 – 1,230 units were sold: for example, this is compared to the results of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and SKODA Kodiaq. The second most popular electric car was the DongFeng X-NV (Honda HR-V) – 609 units were sold: this, compared to the results of the Kia Sportage or Mercedes GLE.
The trend is clear: electric cars from China are coming to the Ukrainian market and are gradually occupying increasingly prominent positions. This is facilitated by both the ratio of characteristics and cost, as well as a wide model range of different brands.
Electric cars from China come to Ukraine in different forms – both local versions of well-known models from global players, and completely own electric cars. Here are various examples: Volkswagen ID.4, Toyota Izoa EV (C-HR EV), DongFeng E11K, BYD e2. But electric cars from China are not the only trend in the car market in 2022.
The state of the dealer network and assistance from car companies
So, some trends of the car market of Ukraine in 2022 are already clear: a failure in March-April and a certain stabilization in the summer, problems with the supply of cars, the popularity of Chinese electric cars. Another important trend was the work of the dealer network.
Since the first days of full-scale war, many dealerships have closed. But then they gradually resumed work – first the service (most already in March), then the possibility of buying cars opened up.
Of course, the dealer network suffered losses. In most brand companies, dealers in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk, Kharkiv, Mariupol were affected – they were robbed and damaged. Some dealers have already recovered and started working, others are completely destroyed.
However, there are new discoveries: plus eight dealers for Stellantis Ukraine (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel) plus one dealer for Mitsubishi plus service partners for Suzuki. Such examples of the expansion of the dealer network even during a full-scale war are not unique.
In addition, companies actively helped Ukrainians. Usually, large funds (up to 1-1.5 million euros) were allocated at the level of the car manufacturing company, which went to the accounts of various charitable funds. Many cars were handed over for use by the Armed Forces or other power structures: the number from 15-17 to 160 cars with a total cost of 2.3 million euros.
Some local importers (such as Stellantis and Hyundai) have arranged for free maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure or military vehicles. The “Eurocar” plant (SKODA) was used as a humanitarian hub for the transfer of goods, and about 300 people lived here, of which 30 were children. Everyone helped as they could.
Maybe I didn’t mention someone (sorry), but in reality all automobile companies made and are making their contribution to the future of Ukraine. Who can: housing for people and children, free repairs or maintenance of equipment, transfer of money and cars, support of charitable initiatives. These are steps towards victory on the humanitarian front – I want to believe in the successful development of Ukraine. Where, among other things, there will be new good cars.
Plans for 2023: what new models are we waiting for in Ukraine?
Let’s start with the leader of 2022 – Toyota. Moreover, this company is the leader in the launch of the first novelty: it concerns the Toyota Corolla Cross crossover, which occupies an intermediate position between the Toyota Yaris Cross and the Toyota RAV4. The advertising campaign of the Toyota Corolla Cross model has already started, the most famous cost when ordering for production is from UAH 1.4 million.
Its competitor, the Suzuki S-Cross crossover, which replaces the popular SX4 model, should also arrive soon (February-March). Even if Suzuki is a bit smaller than Toyota and not as powerful, it will probably be more affordable.
And in general – Japanese companies are preparing a lot of interesting models for Ukraine: completely new generations of Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail (orders have already started), updated models of Nissan Juke and Nissan Leaf, premium crossover Mazda CX-60 should arrive in the summer (will to be positioned higher than the CX-5 model). And the new Lexus RX awaits us.
A worthy competition for the latter will probably be the updated large Volkswagen Touareg crossover. And he will be joined by the updated, but smallest Volkswagen T-Cross crossover, and the new Volkswagen Tiguan should also appear. In addition, fans of the VAG group can count on the Audi Q8 e-tron electric car, the new SKODA Kodiaq and SKODA Superb, the updated SKODA Scala and SKODA Kamiq models.
In general, European brands have also prepared a lot of interesting things for Ukraine – just have time to count: new cars Peugeot 408, Peugeot 308 and 308 SW, DS 4, updated models DS 7 and DS 3, new versions of Land Rover Defender 130, MINI Clubman and MIN Countryman, expansion of the range of the cult sports car Porsche 911.
Some cars – for example, the new Opel Astra hatchback and the updated Citroen C5 Aircross crossover – have already received Ukrainian prices and are on their way to us. And there are new products from Hyundai: Palisade, i10 and i30, IONIQ 6, etc.
Many interesting cars are promised: new models and updates, sports and electric models, compact and large, inexpensive and luxurious. In the end, we hope that all this will allow not only to maintain the market of new cars in Ukraine, but even to increase it: many importers cautiously talk about the forecast of 60,000 cars by 2023.
Of course, everything will depend on the situation at the front and the success of the Armed Forces; we believe and hope. However, we do not just believe, but also actively help – for our joint victory!
