Russians think that domestic cars are those cars produced by Russian brands in Russia. Even those foreign cars which were produced in Russia are called by Russians foreign cars.
MOSCOW, October 29, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on how many Russians are car owners , and how many of them are planning to buy a car; which car is called domestic, and how Russians assess Russian cars compared to cars produced abroad.
The share of Russian car owners is increasing: from 37% in 2006 to 43% currently; however those who have one car per household (38%), unlike those who have more than one car (5%), are dominating. The number of those who do not have a car is decreasing (56% versus 63% four years ago).
Most of those who report having a car are men (48%) and 35-44-year-old Russians (53%). The car is still is an attribute of Russians with high level of income: every fourth among them have a car (50%), among those with low level of income less than one-third have a car (29%).
Most of Russians are not planning to purchase car, however the share of such respondents has considerably decreased since 2009 (from 85 to 76%). The number of those willing to buy a car is growing (from 14% in 2006 in 18% currently), but only in a long term perspective (11%), not this year (7%).
Most of those who would like to purchase a car are residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (24%), 18-24-year-old Russians (21%) and respondents with high level of income (31%). Elderly respondents (91%) and respondents with low level of income (81%) are not planning to do so.
For the majority of Russians domestic cars are cars produced by Russian brands in Russia (60%). Those who think so are residents of Volga district (66%), Urals (64%), Siberia (65%) and North Caucasus (66%), as well as 25-44-year-old respondents (62-64%). Besides, they are supported by most of car owners and those who do not have a car (62 and 58% respectively).
Every fifth (20%) believe that domestic car is any car produced on the territory of Russia. Most of those who think so are Southerners (41%) and 25-44-year-old respondents (23-25%).
And finally, the crucial factor for 14% of respondents is the country that produces car parts: if the manufacturer is domestic, the car can be also treated domestically produced. Those who support this stance are basically residents of North Western District of Russia (20%) and Far-Easterners (22%).
In general, Russians are loyal to domestic cars. Thirty-seven per cent of Russians think that domestic car can be used instead of the imported car in case there is no money to buy a foreign car. Those who share this statement are Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (45%). Thirty-two percent of Russians think that domestic car can be even better than a foreign car (a year ago they were 36%) - this view is mainly shared by rural area residents (35%). Those who definitely prefer foreign cars and think that it is better to go on foot than to have a domestic car are in the minority.
Interestingly, car owners tend to be more loyal to domestic auto industry: they often think that domestic cars can be temporarily used instead of foreign cars (41%). From the other hand, those who have negative attitudes to domestic cars are in the same group as well (19%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on September 11-12, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Does your family have a car? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 2006 | 2009 | March 2010 | September 2010 |
Yes, we have one car | 34 | 37 | 37 | 38 |
Yes, we have more than one car | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
No | 63 | 60 | 57 | 56 |
Hard to tell | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Are you/your family planning to buy a car? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 2006 | 2009 | March 2010 | September 2010 |
Yes, within next month | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Yes within half a year | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Yes, within a year | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Yes, within 2-3 years | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
No | 81 | 85 | 83 | 76 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
In your opinion, which car can be called domestic? | |||
| Total respondents | Those who have a car | Those who do not have a car |
The car of any brand produced on the territory of Russia, even of the parts are brought from abroad | 20 | 23 | 18 |
Only Russian brands` cars produced by Avtovaz, or Gaz, or others manufacturers | 60 | 62 | 58 |
The car of any brand, if the majority of the parts are produced by domestic manufacturers | 14 | 17 | 11 |
Hard to tell | 12 | 6 | 17 |
Which of the statements do you most agree? | ||
| 2009 | 2010 |
In some cases the domestic car is better than a foreign one (poor roads) | 36 | 32 |
If you do not have money to buy a foreign car, you can buy domestic one and use it at least for a while | 35 | 37 |
If you do not have money to buy a foreign car, you would better go on foot, than ride on domestic car | 16 | 15 |
Hard to tell | 13 | 17 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.