A comparison of prices for the most popular Chinese cars shows that in January 2026, many models cost the same or even less than a year ago, despite the market decline and the increase in the recycling fee in the second half of 2025.
The Russian car market in 2025 decreased by 15.2%, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Until autumn, prices for new cars hardly grew, and discounts from dealers were widespread. The situation changed after reports of an unscheduled increase in the recycling fee: prices began to rise, and discounts began to decrease.
To understand whether new cars were cheaper a year ago, the prices of the ten best-selling Chinese models at the end of 2025 were compared. The list selected current versions, taking into account updates to model lines and the cessation of sales of individual cars.
Haval Jolion has become cheaper than others over the year: 2024 crossovers have become cheaper by 8.8–12.2%, and new 2025 cars by 3.4–7%. The updated Belgee X70 also decreased in price by 8.7–10.6% with a simultaneous restyling. Omoda C5 became cheaper by 3.5–6.6%, and Belgee X50 retained its previous price, but became more affordable due to direct discounts.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max and its derivatives Tiggo 7L and Tenet T7 also became cheaper by 1.6–6.1%. Haval M6 in basic versions decreased in price, while top-end configurations partially increased in price. Geely Monjaro retained last year's price level with minimal changes. A significant increase was recorded for Changan Uni-S — up to 24% taking into account the cancellation of discounts.
As a result, only four out of ten models have risen in price, and in most cases the increase fits into the inflation rate. There was no significant jump in prices over the year, but forecasts for 2026 remain subdued: January has already begun with price increases for most brands.