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USED CAR PRICES DROP BY 30% IN GEORGIA
Madona Gasanov
The Financial
May 31 2012
Georgia
The FINANCIAL -- 50,000 vehicles were sold in total in 2011 at Rustavi
Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South Caucasus.
More than 50% of the market's clients come from Azerbaijan
and Armenia. This year the complex attracted new customers from
Kyrgyzstan. This country replaced Kazakhstan, where due to an increase
of import taxes buyers have switched to another market. In 2012 the
prices of used cars have dropped in comparison to previous years.
"At weekends the number of cars for sale reaches 3,000 units. Spring
and Autumn are the best seasons for sales," Ekaterina Tkachenko, Head
of the Marketing Department at Rustavi Autobazroba, told The FINANCIAL.
"The number of customers from Azerbaijan and Armenia is more than 50%.
The Mercedes E-class 2002 model is the most popular car with
Azerbaijani buyers. Mercedes is also popular with Armenian buyers,
but on the whole they prefer cheaper models, those below 8,000 USD,"
she said.
The most popular models of car among Georgians are the Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, and Mercedes Benz E-class.
"In January-April 2012 the major export commodity was motor cars,
amounting to 154,346.8 thousand USD, which is 21.2% of total export,"
according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat. In the
list of top export commodities motor cars is followed by ferroalloys
and nuts.
The share of import of motor cars amounted to 211,783.6 thousand USD,
8.8% of the total amount of commodities imported. It is the second
largest import commodity after oil and petroleum.
The cars that are imported in Georgia are mainly from Germany, the
United States and Japan.
External Merchandise Trade (excluding non-organized trade) of Georgia
amounted to 3,124 million USD in January-April 2012, up 18% from the
same period of the previous year. Compared to January-April 2011,
the volume of export grew by 11% and reached 726 million USD, while
import increased by 20% amounting to 2,397 million USD. The trade
deficit reached 1,671 million USD and amounted to 53% of the total
trade turnover.
In the first quarter of 2012 the top trading partners of Georgia by
import were: Turkey, Germany, Azerbaijan, China, Ukraine , Russia,
Japan, Bulgaria, the US and Italy.
The top trading partners by export during the same period of data
were: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine , the US, Bulgaria, Canada,
Italy, Germany and Belgium.
The bestselling car models at Rustavi Autobazroba are: Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, Mercedes Benz E-class, Mercedes Benz C-class, Volkswagen
Golf, BMW 5 series, BMW 3 series, Mitsubishi Pajero, Opel Omega,
and the Volswagen Passat.
"2011 netted the highest volume of sales for Rustavi Autobazroba. We
sold over 50,000 units. Prices in 2012 have decreased in comparison
to 2010 and 2011," Tkachenko said.
"The majority of our customers are male. This year we served
many clients from Kyrgyzstan. Georgian auto dealers enhance the
possibilities of transporting cars and thereby help potential customers
to purchase their desired vehicles," she added.
"Prices of cars were higher in 2011. The majority of buyers were
Kazakhs. At present prices have dropped but the sales volume is not
high," Tkachenko said.
Rustavi Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South
Caucasus, is located on the Rustavi highway. It incorporates several
markets, the auto-centre, as well as auto services.
The first market was opened in December. Its total area is 250 thousand
square meters and is designed for 5,000 cars. Ukrainian Private Group
invested 25 million USD in it, while the overall project was estimated
at 40 million USD. The market's territory is under the ownership of
Ukrainian businessman Eugene Ustinov.
The market area is divided into zones, including a customs control
zone. It is equipped with fast-food outlets, service centres,
maintenance facilities, warehouses, office space and other additional
services.
In summer 2011 another market was opened on the premises of the
Rustavi Autobazroba - the Caucasian Autocenter by Iberia Business
Group , which invested 4 million GEL in this project.
Another large auto-market was opened by the daughter company of Bank
of Georgia , SB Real Estate.
The sales turnover of auto dealers in 2010, with the exclusion of
retail sellers, amounted to 653.5 million GEL. During the first three
quarters of 2011 this amount was 467.5 million GEL.
Madona Gasanov
The Financial
May 31 2012
Georgia
The FINANCIAL -- 50,000 vehicles were sold in total in 2011 at Rustavi
Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South Caucasus.
More than 50% of the market's clients come from Azerbaijan
and Armenia. This year the complex attracted new customers from
Kyrgyzstan. This country replaced Kazakhstan, where due to an increase
of import taxes buyers have switched to another market. In 2012 the
prices of used cars have dropped in comparison to previous years.
"At weekends the number of cars for sale reaches 3,000 units. Spring
and Autumn are the best seasons for sales," Ekaterina Tkachenko, Head
of the Marketing Department at Rustavi Autobazroba, told The FINANCIAL.
"The number of customers from Azerbaijan and Armenia is more than 50%.
The Mercedes E-class 2002 model is the most popular car with
Azerbaijani buyers. Mercedes is also popular with Armenian buyers,
but on the whole they prefer cheaper models, those below 8,000 USD,"
she said.
The most popular models of car among Georgians are the Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, and Mercedes Benz E-class.
"In January-April 2012 the major export commodity was motor cars,
amounting to 154,346.8 thousand USD, which is 21.2% of total export,"
according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, Geostat. In the
list of top export commodities motor cars is followed by ferroalloys
and nuts.
The share of import of motor cars amounted to 211,783.6 thousand USD,
8.8% of the total amount of commodities imported. It is the second
largest import commodity after oil and petroleum.
The cars that are imported in Georgia are mainly from Germany, the
United States and Japan.
External Merchandise Trade (excluding non-organized trade) of Georgia
amounted to 3,124 million USD in January-April 2012, up 18% from the
same period of the previous year. Compared to January-April 2011,
the volume of export grew by 11% and reached 726 million USD, while
import increased by 20% amounting to 2,397 million USD. The trade
deficit reached 1,671 million USD and amounted to 53% of the total
trade turnover.
In the first quarter of 2012 the top trading partners of Georgia by
import were: Turkey, Germany, Azerbaijan, China, Ukraine , Russia,
Japan, Bulgaria, the US and Italy.
The top trading partners by export during the same period of data
were: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Ukraine , the US, Bulgaria, Canada,
Italy, Germany and Belgium.
The bestselling car models at Rustavi Autobazroba are: Opel Vectra,
Opel Astra, Mercedes Benz E-class, Mercedes Benz C-class, Volkswagen
Golf, BMW 5 series, BMW 3 series, Mitsubishi Pajero, Opel Omega,
and the Volswagen Passat.
"2011 netted the highest volume of sales for Rustavi Autobazroba. We
sold over 50,000 units. Prices in 2012 have decreased in comparison
to 2010 and 2011," Tkachenko said.
"The majority of our customers are male. This year we served
many clients from Kyrgyzstan. Georgian auto dealers enhance the
possibilities of transporting cars and thereby help potential customers
to purchase their desired vehicles," she added.
"Prices of cars were higher in 2011. The majority of buyers were
Kazakhs. At present prices have dropped but the sales volume is not
high," Tkachenko said.
Rustavi Autobazroba, the largest car market complex in the South
Caucasus, is located on the Rustavi highway. It incorporates several
markets, the auto-centre, as well as auto services.
The first market was opened in December. Its total area is 250 thousand
square meters and is designed for 5,000 cars. Ukrainian Private Group
invested 25 million USD in it, while the overall project was estimated
at 40 million USD. The market's territory is under the ownership of
Ukrainian businessman Eugene Ustinov.
The market area is divided into zones, including a customs control
zone. It is equipped with fast-food outlets, service centres,
maintenance facilities, warehouses, office space and other additional
services.
In summer 2011 another market was opened on the premises of the
Rustavi Autobazroba - the Caucasian Autocenter by Iberia Business
Group , which invested 4 million GEL in this project.
Another large auto-market was opened by the daughter company of Bank
of Georgia , SB Real Estate.
The sales turnover of auto dealers in 2010, with the exclusion of
retail sellers, amounted to 653.5 million GEL. During the first three
quarters of 2011 this amount was 467.5 million GEL.