Truck Sales in Kuban Plummet by 38% Over One Year

Russia's truck market crashes in early 2026 with record declines

Alexander Tsypin, deputy head of the Association of Chinese Automakers in Russia, told RBC Krasnodar at the ROAD Convention 2026 forum that sales of new trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tons in Krasnodar Krai fell by 38% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

A total of 355 vehicles were sold in the region, down from 575 in the previous year.

By comparison, Rostov Oblast saw an even steeper decline—58%. Only 175 trucks were sold there, compared to 421 in the first quarter of 2025.

In 2025, Kuban accounted for 2% of Russia's total truck sales, but by early 2026, its share had risen to 3%. Rostov Oblast also held a 2% market share.

Nationwide, 12,300 trucks were sold from January to March 2026—a 29% drop from the same period last year (17,300 units). According to the expert, the gap may narrow by a few percentage points by year-end, but no significant recovery in demand for commercial vehicles is expected before 2027.

Earlier reports indicated that the Southern Federal District plans to launch its first regional machinery manufacturing company in 2026. The project is part of Rosagroleasing's development strategy through 2030, though the exact location has yet to be determined.