The Russian car market is in deep stagnation. Foreign companies are leaving, domestic companies are struggling with parts shortages, while simultaneously starting up strange electric car projects. All these disruptions are closely monitored by Chinese manufacturers. In particular Chery and her premium brand Exeed. Gennady Baranov, director of Exeed Cars Rus, told the AvtoVzglyad portal what conclusions they are coming to and what plans they are making.
The top manager notes that the domestic car market is really struggling: in 2022 it fell by 60%. And it is already clear that there will be no growth. It would be great if dealers of all makes could sell more than 800,000 cars according to the annual results. In the current reality, this result can even be considered positive. In general, everyone is declining, but the share of Chinese brands is increasing.
And that there is still life in the depressed market, the Exeed brand, which appeared in our country in 2020 proves. The current performance is impressive, not only because of the low base of previous years (and absolutely everything grows in such conditions), but also because the manufacturer offers both new models and new approaches to the customer. Recall that the Chinese first launched the TXL crossover with us, then they introduced the younger LX. Now the TXL has a new 2.0-liter supercharged engine, and the full-size VX SUV has risen to the top of the lineup.
There are no sedans, but given that German premium brands have slowed deliveries, Asians are already looking to the traditionally popular body in Russia. Moreover, the parent company Chery has all the technologies and possibilities for this in-house.
Mr. Baranov says that one of the secrets of Chinese success is the speed with which the lineup is updated. This is indeed true, but the process also has drawbacks. For example, a citizen who has bought a Chinese car sees that a new model will be released in a year. A person has many questions. First, his one-year-old car loses a lot of value. And also the availability of spare parts, body parts, etc. is starting to worry. Most likely, Exeed should put the line update on the European “rails” to restyle less often and change the lineup. So it becomes clearer for the consumer.
As for the dealer network, Iksid now has 92 dealers and by the end of the year the number should grow to 120 centers. The wise Chinese “catch” the brand sellers who have left the country, because they simply have nothing to trade! Asians promote their business standards, especially in the premium segment. I assume they are taking an example here from the Korean Genesis. As a result, Exeed models will be showcased exclusively in their own pavilions, enhancing the brand’s premium experience.
And is it premium? Gennady Baranov is sure that the “Iksids” do not differ from the models of the great German trio, yielding only in some technologies. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that now the owners of premium German cars are switching to Iksids. Citizens are understandable. Spare parts for the “Germans” jumped in price, and they too had to wait a long time.
It is unlikely that even a very wealthy person would agree to pay 500,000 rubles to replace a cracked windshield with a BMW, or wait two months for a shock absorber. At the same time, he wants the car to have a warranty. So this nuance forces people to buy premium cars from China. After all, the Chinese have everything in order with the service: there are no scrap prices, nor is there a long wait.
In addition, they have greatly improved quality and comfort. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future. But what happens when we become friends with Europe again? Will the reverse process of getting rid of the Chinese premium and buying the already well-known BMW and Audi disappear? Time will tell the answer to these questions, but for now a little more about the present day.
Sales of “Europeans” are falling and Exeed will grow 3-4 times by the end of the year. With such success, it would be time to think about the local meeting of crossovers in Russia, but Gennady Baranov insists not to rush things: while the issue is being studied and there is no ready-made solution.
Anyway, next year will be very interesting. New Chinese brands, including premium brands, will continue to come to Russia, so the consumer battle between them will only increase (which, by the way, will only benefit this consumer). What Exeed will be able to withstand from competitors, you can find out here.
The top manager notes that the domestic car market is really struggling: in 2022 it fell by 60%. And it is already clear that there will be no growth. It would be great if dealers of all makes could sell more than 800,000 cars according to the annual results. In the current reality, this result can even be considered positive. In general, everyone is declining, but the share of Chinese brands is increasing.
And that there is still life in the depressed market, the Exeed brand, which appeared in our country in 2020 proves. The current performance is impressive, not only because of the low base of previous years (and absolutely everything grows in such conditions), but also because the manufacturer offers both new models and new approaches to the customer. Recall that the Chinese first launched the TXL crossover with us, then they introduced the younger LX. Now the TXL has a new 2.0-liter supercharged engine, and the full-size VX SUV has risen to the top of the lineup.
There are no sedans, but given that German premium brands have slowed deliveries, Asians are already looking to the traditionally popular body in Russia. Moreover, the parent company Chery has all the technologies and possibilities for this in-house.
Mr. Baranov says that one of the secrets of Chinese success is the speed with which the lineup is updated. This is indeed true, but the process also has drawbacks. For example, a citizen who has bought a Chinese car sees that a new model will be released in a year. A person has many questions. First, his one-year-old car loses a lot of value. And also the availability of spare parts, body parts, etc. is starting to worry. Most likely, Exeed should put the line update on the European “rails” to restyle less often and change the lineup. So it becomes clearer for the consumer.
As for the dealer network, Iksid now has 92 dealers and by the end of the year the number should grow to 120 centers. The wise Chinese “catch” the brand sellers who have left the country, because they simply have nothing to trade! Asians promote their business standards, especially in the premium segment. I assume they are taking an example here from the Korean Genesis. As a result, Exeed models will be showcased exclusively in their own pavilions, enhancing the brand’s premium experience.
And is it premium? Gennady Baranov is sure that the “Iksids” do not differ from the models of the great German trio, yielding only in some technologies. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that now the owners of premium German cars are switching to Iksids. Citizens are understandable. Spare parts for the “Germans” jumped in price, and they too had to wait a long time.
It is unlikely that even a very wealthy person would agree to pay 500,000 rubles to replace a cracked windshield with a BMW, or wait two months for a shock absorber. At the same time, he wants the car to have a warranty. So this nuance forces people to buy premium cars from China. After all, the Chinese have everything in order with the service: there are no scrap prices, nor is there a long wait.
In addition, they have greatly improved quality and comfort. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future. But what happens when we become friends with Europe again? Will the reverse process of getting rid of the Chinese premium and buying the already well-known BMW and Audi disappear? Time will tell the answer to these questions, but for now a little more about the present day.
Sales of “Europeans” are falling and Exeed will grow 3-4 times by the end of the year. With such success, it would be time to think about the local meeting of crossovers in Russia, but Gennady Baranov insists not to rush things: while the issue is being studied and there is no ready-made solution.
Anyway, next year will be very interesting. New Chinese brands, including premium brands, will continue to come to Russia, so the consumer battle between them will only increase (which, by the way, will only benefit this consumer). What Exeed will be able to withstand from competitors, you can find out here.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
I’m Sandra Torres, a passionate journalist and content creator. My specialty lies in covering the latest gadgets, trends and tech news for Div Bracket. With over 5 years of experience as a professional writer, I have built up an impressive portfolio of published works that showcase my expertise in this field.