OREANDA-NEWS. May 19, 2009. In April passenger car output grew 3.9% in Russia compared to March, the Federal Statistics Service reported without giving absolute figures. Truck manufacture jumped 15.7% vs. March. According to the Russian statistical authority’s data, during the first four months of 2009 Russia’s passenger cars production sank 60.9% to 183,000 vehicles and truck output declined 73.3% to 25,000.

Demand for vehicles in Russia has shrunk by a record rate since the beginning of the economic downturn, forcing nearly all auto makers to halt their assembly lines in order to eliminate excess inventory. The Association of European Businesses reported earlier that passenger car sales slumped 53% in January-April. The Russian Ministry of Industry earlier provided its forecast for the automotive market, according to which sales could decrease by 60% by the end of the year.