Over the nine months of 2026, Russians borrowed more than 1.4 trillion rubles from banks to buy cars.
Quick Look
- Over the nine months of 2026, Russian residents borrowed more than 1.4 trillion rubles from banks to purchase cars, which is 22% higher than the figure for the same period in 2025.
- In September, issuances decreased by 2% compared to August.
- According to VTB forecasts, by the end of the year the car lending market will grow by 15% and reach about 2 trillion rubles.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The car loan market in Russia is showing recovery after a period of decline associated with high key rates and economic uncertainty. The growth in issuance is associated with the availability of loans and demand for cars.
Over the nine months of 2026, Russian residents borrowed more than 1.4 trillion rubles from banks to purchase cars. The VTB press service reported this to Lenta.ru.
The achieved result was 22 percent higher than that recorded for the same period last year. At the same time, in September, issuances decreased by two percent compared to August.
According to the bank, by the end of 2026 the car lending market will grow by about 15 percent, reaching approximately two trillion rubles.
According to the United Credit Bureau, by the beginning of autumn 2026, the average term of a car loan issued in Russia had increased to a record six years. Simultaneously with the increase in the average term, the size of this loan also increases. The corresponding figure came close to 1.6 million rubles. This is the maximum in the entire history of observations.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The car loan market in Russia will reach approximately two trillion rubles by the end of 2026
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How has the structure of issues changed by type of car (new/used, domestic/imported)?
- What share of issuances comes from preferential or subsidized programs?
- How does the quality of the auto loan portfolio change with increasing average term and amount?
