MOSCOW, March 4, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on how many Russians have an automobile, how many Russians are planning to buy it and which payment method they use.

39% of Russian families have got a car (including 2% of those having two or more cars) against 37% three years earlier. Over this time the private auto fleet has modernized at the expense of foreign cars. The share of the families who use domestic cars has dropped from 75% to 63% (49% have got a new car, and 14% have got a used car produced in Russia), and the share of foreign car owners has increased one and a half times: from 27% in 2006 to 41% now (including 14% of those who own a new foreign-made car, and 27% have an old one). Respondents who own a new domestic car are often residents of big cities (23%), and those who have got a used one are residents of middle cities (59%). Muscovites and St.Petersburgians more often reports that they possess new or used foreign car (29% and 39% respectively).

The majority of Russians who do not have any car are not planning to buy it in the future (85%) - the share of such respondents has decreased by 4% over the recent 3 years. Those who think so are mostly Russians with law finance state self-assessment (92%). 8% are planning to buy a car in the nearest two or three years, 2% - during a year, only 1% - during a half a year. Almost nobody is going to buy a car within the nearest month.

The main reason why Russians are not panning to buy a car is the lack of money (47%), often it is men who say so (50%) and those aged 25-34 (60%). Almost every third (31%) report that there is no need for buying a car: often women think so (33%), as well as those aged 60 and above (48%). Less popular reasons are as follows: this is dangerous mode transport (5%), inability to drive a car for health reasons (2%), and prices` decline expectations (1%). 

"Convenience" is the main argument in favor of buying a car (51%, in 2006 - 55%). Those who think so are mostly citizens of middle towns and rural area (63% and 64% respectively) and those aged 18-24 (72%). The second position (20%) is held by those who are willing to change an old car for a new one (in 2006 - 24%); those who say so are often capital` residents (36%) and those aged 25-44 (24-26%). 16% of Russians need a car for their work (16%); the share of such respondents is the highest among 25-34-year-old respondents (21%) and residents of big cities (28%). Those who say that they would like to make a present or successfully invest their money are 2 % for each group.

Men and women buy cars for different reasons. Men tend to plan buying a car because they would like to change their old car for a new one (26% against 11% among women), as well as their need to use it for work (19% against 11%). Women often tend to point out convenient mode of transportation (58% against 46% among men). 

Very often Russians do not know where to get money to buy a car (37%, in 2006 году - only 10%). Almost every third (30%) are planning to buy on credit (in 2006 - one-and-a-half times more, 46%). Most of them are Russians with 3-5 thousand rubles income per family member (40%). 27% prefer full cash payment (in 2006 - 44%). Those who said so are mostly respondents whose income is from 1501 to 3000 rubles per family member (41%). Other 6% are going to borrow money from their relatives or friends (in 2006 there were no such answer).

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on February 21-22, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,

 the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!