6 April 10:35
According to VTB estimates, in March 2026, the Russian car loan market reached 174 billion rubles. This is 70% higher than in March last year and 1.5 times higher than in February of this year. Based on the results of the entire quarter, car loan sales increased by 42%.
This year the market is demonstrating stable positive dynamics month on month. The key growth factors are banks’ adaptation to tightening regulatory requirements, when only the official income of borrowers is taken into account, as well as a consistent decrease in market rates following the easing of the monetary policy of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation.
At the end of March, VTB maintained its position at market level: car loan sales increased 1.5 times compared to February. The average loan amounts for new and used cars are almost equal, amounting to about 1.5 million rubles. At the same time, this figure for used cars increased by 9% during the month, while for new cars it remained at the February level.
“The March issuances confirm the market’s transition to a sustainable recovery phase. We are recording growth not only in the amount, but also in the number of transactions – this is a signal of the return of mass demand. The growing demand for new cars suggests that customers, despite market conditions, remain interested in updating their fleet,” commented Alexey Okhorzin, Senior Vice President, Head of VTB Retail Business Products Department.
According to VTB forecasts, if the current trend continues, by the end of 2026 the volume of the car lending market could reach about 1.8 trillion rubles, which is 5% higher than last year’s result.
