Within the first eight months of 2013, the Russian car market noticeably contacted. In particular, the sales of heavy trucks decreased 6.8 percent, as reported by AJexei Rakhmanov from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Deputy Minister Rakhmanov is concerned about the age of cargo-transporting vehicles in Russia. Automobiles that have more than eight years of service at the present time comprise approximately 64 percent of the light commercial fleet. In the medium duty trucks segment, about 76 percent of trucks are over eight years of age. Finally, in the heavy-duty truck category, the percentage of vehicles with eight or more years of service is at 57. Mr. Rakhmanov also considers it alarming that used trucks continue to be imported to Russia at a high rate.