Talking to experts and figures in the automotive market throughout the year, we can safely identify a common trend: this has never happened before. Such a flurry, the ninth wave, swept away not only all agreements, but also the rules of the game in one fell swoop. Literally in a matter of days, dealer agreements have turned into a “letter from filkin”, and many – not all, but most – automakers have stopped supply.

The cornerstones of the company – warranty, original parts, brand credit – disappeared in the blink of an eye. Not only the purchase, but also the operation of the car was turned upside down. This conclusion is confirmed by a conversation with Alexander Tsverkunov, general director of the regional dealer network “MC Group”:

– Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not have such a decline. It was much easier to find a new working principle, we quickly developed the mechanics of customer service. There were few cars, yes, but there were parts, and any dealer can survive if there is service. In the same year, everything changed fundamentally: from sales to service. It’s too late to drink Borjomi, you have to start from a new page, because those who continue to bend the old line will eventually be out of work …

The key element of the very “new line” that will bow to dealers, gas stations and car owners in the coming months, if not years, is parallel importation – the importation of products without permission from the copyright holder. Simply put, it is no longer necessary to obtain permission from the distributor to trade. In parallel with the adoption of the relevant document by the country’s government, there was a worldwide appreciation of the ruble.

There are no proprietary programs, leasing and other already known tools and are not expected either, so you will have to pay for a new car at once. And few people can afford it. In addition, cars from the universe of “parallel” are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, there are often problems with spare parts – well, where to find a bumper or a headlight on a Mitsubishi Xpander, for example? In Thailand? How to transfer money there? There are more questions than answers.

You can no longer just come to the dealer and pass all the worries on to him by handing over the key. Even insurance companies will not help: although they are ready to take imported cars for insurance, the probability of repair is extremely illusory – wrecked cars wait many months for spare parts.

Parallel imports were able to partially close the gap in the market by delivering up to 200 cars a day “to the shelves”, but they could not fully cover the vast country’s huge technology needs. And it will not be able to: the full functioning of the market requires a stable and regular supply, which can only be achieved in one way: the revival of contractual relations with the manufacturer.

However, it also becomes difficult for the latter: how can you sell a car for five million if you can buy it for three? However, the news and gossip that come “from the fields” give a big hint: the manufacturers do not intend to dwell too long on their sanctions. The parallel imports, which officially started in May, brought 2.4 million tons of goods to Russia with a total value of $20,000,000,000. Yes: twenty billion “dollars”.

Talking to experts and figures in the automotive market throughout the year, we can safely identify a common trend: this has never happened before. Such a flurry, the ninth wave, swept away not only all agreements, but also the rules of the game in one fell swoop. Literally in a matter of days, dealer agreements have turned into a “letter from filkin”, and many – not all, but most – automakers have stopped supply.

The cornerstones of the company – warranty, original parts, brand credit – disappeared in the blink of an eye. Not only the purchase, but also the operation of the car was turned upside down. This conclusion is confirmed by a conversation with Alexander Tsverkunov, general director of the regional dealer network “MC Group”:

– Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not have such a decline. It was much easier to find a new working principle, we quickly developed the mechanics of customer service. There were few cars, yes, but there were parts, and any dealer can survive if there is service. In the same year, everything changed fundamentally: from sales to service. It’s too late to drink Borjomi, you have to start from a new page, because those who continue to bend the old line will eventually be out of work …

The key element of the very “new line” that will bow to dealers, gas stations and car owners in the coming months, if not years, is parallel importation – the importation of products without permission from the copyright holder. Simply put, it is no longer necessary to obtain permission from the distributor to trade. In parallel with the adoption of the relevant document by the country’s government, there was a worldwide appreciation of the ruble.

There are no proprietary programs, leasing and other already known tools and are not expected either, so you will have to pay for a new car at once. And few people can afford it. In addition, cars from the universe of “parallel” are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, there are often problems with spare parts – well, where to find a bumper or a headlight on a Mitsubishi Xpander, for example? In Thailand? How to transfer money there? There are more questions than answers.

You can no longer just come to the dealer and pass all the worries on to him by handing over the key. Even insurance companies will not help: although they are ready to take imported cars for insurance, the probability of repair is extremely illusory – wrecked cars wait many months for spare parts.

Parallel imports were able to partially close the gap in the market by delivering up to 200 cars a day “to the shelves”, but they could not fully cover the vast country’s huge technology needs. And it will not be able to: the full functioning of the market requires a stable and regular supply, which can only be achieved in one way: the revival of contractual relations with the manufacturer.

However, it also becomes difficult for the latter: how can you sell a car for five million if you can buy it for three? However, the news and gossip that come “from the fields” give a big hint: the manufacturers do not intend to dwell on their sanctions for too long. The parallel imports, which officially started in May, brought 2.4 million tons of goods to Russia with a total value of $20,000,000,000. Yes: twenty billion “dollars”.