Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOWAugust 25, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how many Russians are planning to buy a car, how, and what car - imported or domestic.

The amount of Russians planning to buy a car within a year has doubled over the recent two years (from 3% to 6%): 1% are ready to buy a car within a month, 2% - within half a year, 3% - within a year.  The share of those willing to make such a purchase within two or three years has increased - from 8% to 13%. Those who have both short-term and long-term prospects for buying a car  are respondents with high level of income (13% and 23% respectively) and those who possess more than one car (10% and 19% respectively).  The part of Russians who are not ready to buy a car has decreased compared to February (from 85% to 79%, which is the lowest figure over the whole period of measurement). Those who are not going to spend money for buying a car are basically respondents with low level of income (86%) and those who do not have money at all (81%).  

 

Our fellow-citizens now have clearer vision of how to pay for a car - the share of the undecided respondents has decreased from 37% in February to 21% in July. At the same time, the share of Russians who are ready to get a car loan has increased (42% versus 36%), though 10% would like to get the money not from the bank, but their relatives and friends. More Russians prefer lump cash sum (from 27% to 37%).

 

Those who prefer to pay full cash are mainly respondents who do not have financial difficulties (37-40%), rural area inhabitants (44%), and those who are buying used domestic cars (59%). Muscovites and St.Petesrburgians prefer to acquire a car loan (39% - for the money taken from the bank, 17% - for the money taken from the relatives and friends). However, those with high level of income still get a bank loan (32-34%); and Russians with low financial self-esteem get money from their relatives and friends (13%).

 

Those Russians planning to get a car in the near future would rather choose a new imported car - the amount of such respondents has increased since 2006 (from 19% to 28%). Rarer Russians mention used foreign cars (23%). Foreign cars are chosen by those who are convinced that it is better to walk than riding in a Russian car (39-48%). However, whereas new foreign cars are mentioned by young Russians aged 25-34 (38%), respondents with good financial income (44%), and metropolitan residents (42%), old imported cars are popular among those with low level of income (28%), youth (32%) and residents of middle-sized cities (28%).

 

Over the recent half a year new domestic cars have become more popular - the share of such respondents has doubled since February (from 12 to 22%). Other 11% are planning to acquire a used domestic auto. New domestic cars are chosen by those who are confident that our cars are not worse and sometimes even better than the foreign ones (36%), middle-aged Russians (36%), rural area inhabitants (30%), and respondents with average level of income and lower (24-25%). Used domestic autos are mainly chosen by elderly citizens (27%), respondents with low level of income (13%), rural area residents (17%), and those who consider that it is a temporary measure till they save up enough money to bay a foreign car.

 

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 4-5, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Are you or your family planning to buy a car? 
(close-ended question, one answer )

 

August 2006

February 2009

July 2009

Yes, within a month

1

0

1

Yes, within half a year

1

1

2

Yes, within a year

4

2

3

Yes, within  2 or years

7

8

13

No

81

85

78

Hard to tell

5

4

3

How are you planning to buy a car
(close-ended question, one answer, % of those who are planning to buy a car)

 

February 2009

July 2009

Full cash

27

37

Loan

30

32

Borrow money from relatives and friends

6

10

Hard to tell

37

21

What car would you like to buy
(close-ended question, one answer, % of those who re planning to buy a car)

 

August 2006

February 2009

July 2009

New imported car (produced in 2006 and later)

19

24

28

Used imported car  (produced till 2006)

20

25

23

New domestic car  (2006 and later)

35

12

22

Used domestic car  (till 2006)

19

10

11

Hard to tell

7

29

15

 

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!

Read the article in Russian
Topics:
Car market