The share of all-wheel drive vehicles in Russia reached a record 41.5 percent

Over the eight months of 2026, the share of new passenger cars with all-wheel drive in Russia amounted to a record 41.5 percent. Market experts, in a conversation with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, explained the reasons for the explosive growth in sales and the prospects for this automotive segment.

According to Daniel Zelensky, CEO of the Russian fintech service CarCraft, all-wheel drive is gradually turning into a mandatory component of a mass-produced car. First of all, more and more Chinese crossovers and SUVs are appearing in Russia, which often have all-wheel drive from the start. The climatic and geographical conditions of the country also affect the growth of sales of such machines.

“Due to rising car prices, buyers are increasingly looking at a car as a long-term investment. Therefore, the choice in favor of 4x4 versions is justified: this means both cross-country ability and higher liquidity in the secondary market,” Zelensky emphasized.

The demand for all-wheel drive vehicles will continue, Sergei Tolkachev, a professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, is confident. “Now the Chinese are actively expanding their range of all-wheel drive vehicles. They used to only offer front-wheel drive to keep the models cheaper, but now they're making all-wheel drive more affordable,” he says. Hybrids and electric vehicles, such as the Voyah Free and Zeekr, often have all-wheel drive as standard, changing the market structure. Automakers are responding to demand by keeping front-wheel drive trim levels to only the cheapest options. This is also pushing buyers towards all-wheel drive vehicles.

According to Zelensky, the trend will continue, but with a gradual slowdown, which will depend on localization, cost and the willingness of manufacturers to adapt models to Russian conditions. The expert did not rule out that in the next couple of years the figure will approach 43-45 percent.