Moscow – Russia’s production of passenger cars dropped 46.7% year-on-year in October, totaling 50,000 vehicles, according to the federal statistics service Rosstat.

The sharp decline reflects a struggling domestic auto market, with manufacturers shortening work weeks to align production with weak demand. Analysts expect the overall Russian car market to contract by around 20% in 2025.

The slowdown has been driven by a combination of high interest rates, rising recycling fees, and reduced consumer spending, even as state support continues for major domestic carmakers.