---
title: "Solaris in Russia: October sales plummet by 81%, production in St. Petersburg already halted"
description: "Solaris car sales in Russia fell by 81% year-on-year in October 2026, and dropped by 40% over ten months. Production at the St. Petersburg plant has already finished, leaving about 4,000 cars in stock."
date: 2026-11-11T21:53:20.636Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/solaris-sales-in-russia-fall-81-percent
tags: [solaris, hyundai-kia-russia, car-sales, russian-auto-market, kia-rio, hyundai-creta]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Solaris in Russia: October sales plummet by 81%, production in St. Petersburg already halted

![Red Solaris KRS sedan parked on a street among autumn trees](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/11/solaris-prodazhi-v-rossii-upali-na-81-procent/solaris-prodazhi-v-rossii-upali-na-81-procent-1.webp)

## Key Points

- In October 2026, 1,106 Solaris cars were registered — 81% fewer than a year earlier (5,809).
- For the first 10 months of 2026, sales totaled about 16.6 thousand cars, a 40% year-on-year drop.
- Production at the former Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg ended last December; slightly over 70 thousand cars were produced.
- Warehouse inventories are estimated at around 4,000 vehicles, which at current rates will last until early next year.

The market for Russian-assembled cars launched under the Solaris brand in March 2024 is showing a sharp slowdown. According to registration data, 1,106 Solaris cars were registered in October 2026 — an 81% drop compared to the same month a year earlier, when 5,809 vehicles were registered. This decline is the most pronounced throughout the brand's presence on the market and indicates the depletion of initial demand generated in the first months after sales started.

### Annual dynamics: minus 40% over ten months

Looking at a longer period, the picture is also negative, albeit less dramatic. In the first ten months of 2026, the brand's sales reached about 16.6 thousand cars, down 40% from the same period last year. Since the brand's launch in Russia, nearly 66,000 Solaris vehicles have been sold, but the pace of shipments to dealers and end customers has consistently declined every quarter.

### Production in St. Petersburg completed

A key factor limiting supply has been the cessation of production: car manufacturing at the former Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg ended back in December of last year. A little over 70,000 units in total were produced under the Solaris brand during the facility's operation. Thus, the brand has effectively shifted into a mode of selling off accumulated stock without replenishing it with new batches from the assembly line.

### Inventory and depletion forecast

Comparing production volumes (around 70,000) and sold cars (nearly 66,000) suggests that roughly 4,000 vehicles remain in warehouses and at dealerships. At current sales rates, this stock may last approximately until the beginning of next year. At the same time, the manufacturer does not disclose the exact number of cars held by dealers and in warehouses, so the calculation is an estimate.

### Solaris model lineup

Four models were produced in Russia under the Solaris brand, essentially badge-engineered versions of Hyundai and Kia cars: Solaris HC (a Hyundai Creta clone), Solaris HS (Hyundai Solaris), Solaris KRX (Kia Rio X-Line), and Solaris KRS (Kia Rio Sedan). These specific models form the entirety of the brand's sales volume, and their future fate on the market will depend on whether the dealership network can sell off the remaining inventory by the end of the year.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Hyundai и Kia российской сборки теряют покупателей: продажи автомобилей Solaris в октябре упали на 81%](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/11/11/hyundai-i-kia-rossiiskoi-sborki-teriaiut-pokupatelei-prodazi-avtomobilei-solaris-v-oktiabre-upali-na-81.html) - Registration figures for October (1,106, −81%) and for 10 months (≈16.6k, −40%), production volume (>70k), launch date (March 2024), and production shutdown (December of last year) are provided in the source. The estimate of ~4k remaining in warehouses is calculated; the manufacturer does not disclose exact data.

## FAQ

### By how much did Solaris sales fall in October 2026?

By 81% year-on-year: 1,106 registered cars compared to 5,809 in October of last year.

### Is Solaris production continuing in Russia?

No. Production at the former Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg ended last December; a total of slightly over 70,000 cars were produced under the brand.

### How many Solaris cars are left in warehouses?

Estimates based on the difference between production and sales put it at about 4,000 vehicles. The exact number is not disclosed by the manufacturer.

### What models were produced under the Solaris brand?

Four models: Solaris HC (Hyundai Creta clone), Solaris HS (Hyundai Solaris), Solaris KRX (Kia Rio X-Line), and Solaris KRS (Kia Rio Sedan).