The bus segment in the automobile market has always been the smallest of all. Like the rest of commercial cars, it is very dependent on the general state of the economy in the country. And there was a lot of stress since the beginning of the year. Experts of the Institute of Car Market Research analyzed the statistics registrations of vehicles in Ukraine and identified the TOP models in three segments of buses: import of used, domestic resale and purchase of new ones.
Bus market dynamics
In the first half of 2022, Ukrainians purchased 2.6 thousand new and used buses. This indicator is -42.7% less than in the same period last year.
At the same time, if in other categories of vehicles, sales are catching up with last yearʼs indicators, the bus segment does not show special dynamics. This means that there is no great need for transport for the transportation of passengers today. Closed borders, limited movement within the borders of the country, a decrease in the number of the active population and a general decrease in mobility due to the war in no way contribute to the sales of buses, the segment of which has always been the smallest in the Ukrainian car market.
According to the results of the first half of 2022, 65.8% of all buses were purchased used on the domestic market (1.7 thousand transactions), another 24.3% were brought from abroad (0.6 thousand units). Only 9.9% of buses were purchased new (260 units), of which 112 were brought new from abroad, and 148 were manufactured or converted by Ukrainian enterprises.
At the same time, among all categories, only the import of used buses increased, if compared with the first half of 2021: by 18.7%. Also , the share of imported buses with mileage in the sales structure increased significantly: if in January-February it was 16-17%, then in May and June it was already 46.6% and 35.2%, respectively. This was most likely a consequence of "zero" customs clearance, which was applied to the import of this category of vehicles.
It is interesting that the majority of buses with mileage on the domestic market were purchased by individuals ( 83.3% ); used buses from abroad were mostly registered by private buyers ( 77.8% ); and only legal entities were the buyers of almost all new buses — both among imported ( 96.4% ) and buses manufactured/converted in Ukraine ( 98% ).
As for the average age, in the domestic market this indicator is higher — 16.4 years. Somewhat newer buses are brought from abroad, with an average age of 11.2 years. However, in addition to age, the technical and operational characteristics of vehicles that transport passengers are also important, in simple words — the comfort of passengers, the Institute of Car Market Research emphasizes. For a more detailed analysis, it is necessary to consider what brands and models of buses Ukrainians buy.
The most popular buses on the domestic market
Mercedes-Benz holds the stable lead in sales of used buses within the country with a share of 39.6% (682 units). Second place with a share of 10.7% (185 units) was taken by the Ukrainian brand BAZ. The third place was occupied by Volkswagen buses ( 7.7%, 133 units), the fourth place was another Ukrainian brand Bohdan (7.4%, 127 units). Rounding out the top 5 are Ruta buses (5.5%, 95 units) — products of another Ukrainian manufacturer.
As can be seen from the list of the 10 most popular buses on the domestic market, Ukrainians most often buy small and medium-class buses. The universal Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (1.4 thousand units) became the leader in domestic resales. At the same time, the list included both buses manufactured on the "sprinter" chassis both in factory conditions and individually already in Ukraine, when it was still allowed by law.
In second place are buses based on Mercedes Benz T1 and T2 (265 units), which have not been produced since the mid-90s of the last century. This item also includes cargo vehicles that were once converted into buses.
The third place is by far the most massive in the history of Ukrainian automobile manufacturing by the BAZ A079 "Etalon" bus (162 units). The bus was built on the Indian TATA LPT-613 truck chassis, which in turn was created on the basis of the second generation Mercedes-Benz LN (they began to produce such in the distant 1964).
The fourth place — also according to the products of Ukrainian enterprises — Bohdan A-092 (101 units), designed on the basis of the Indian Isuzu chassis. The fifth step was taken by Iveco Daily (94 units). Among the cars of Western brands, two Volkswagens — LT and Crafter (sixth and seventh places, respectively) also made it to the top ten most popular buses.
On the eighth step is the Russian PAZ 3205 — an echo of the times when Ukraine was a victim of Russiaʼs economic expansion.
Ninth place was taken by Ruta 25, which was manufactured in the Donetsk region at first on the basis of Russian GAZelles, and later on the Ford Transit chassis. Ten buses based on Ford Transit are closing.
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — 381 pcs.
- Mercedes-Benz T1/T2 — 265 pcs.
- BAZ A079 "Etalon" — 162 pcs.
- Bohdan A-092 — 101 pcs.
- Iveco Daily (Turbo/Power) — 94 pcs.
- Volkswagen LT — 79 pcs.
- Volkswagen Crafter — 49 pcs.
- PAZ 3205 — 46 pcs.
- Ruta 25 — 40 pcs.
- Ford Transit — 28 pcs.
The most popular used buses brought from abroad
As in the domestic market, Ukrainians imported the most Mercedes-Benz buses from abroad ( 31.6%, 201 units). The second most popular was Van Hool ( 15.1%, 96 units), and the third with a share of 8.3% ( 53 units) — Bova (also known as VDL ).
MAN ( 7.1%, 45 units) and Volvo ( 6.1%, 39 units) also made it to the top five popular foreign bus brands.
The list of the most popular models of used buses from abroad is headed by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (139 units). However, six out of 10 models are occupied by models of large buses. And this means that they are currently lacking in the domestic market.
The second and third places were taken by tourist buses: Van Hool T9 (56 units) and Mercedes-Benz Tourismo (31 units). Setra 400 series (31 units), which also includes tourist buses, are on the fourth step.
The fifth, sixth, and ninth places were occupied by small-class buses on Volkswagen Crafter, Renault Master, and Ford Transit chassis, respectively. The remaining places in the top were occupied by large buses — VDL Ambassador, Volvo B7 and Scania K-Series.
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — 139 pcs.
- Van Hool T9 — 56 pcs.
- Mercedes-Benz Tourismo — 31 pcs.
- Setra 400-Series — 31 pcs.
- Volkswagen Crafter — 24 pcs.
- Renault Master — 21 pcs.
- VDL Ambassador — 21 pcs.
- Volvo B7 — 20 pcs.
- Ford Transit — 19 pcs.
- Scania K-Series — 13 pcs.
The most popular new buses
The number of new buses purchased by Ukrainians in the first half of 2022 is insignificant, but it allows you to rank brands and understand the general situation in this segment of the car market. Most of the brands included in the top are products of domestic plants, i.e. buses manufactured or converted in Ukraine.
Thus, the first and second places with almost the same share were taken by Ataman ( 15.8%, 41 units) and Etalon ( 15.4%, 40 units). Hyundai took the third place (11.5%, 30 units), and Ford (8.5%, 22 units) took the fourth place. But Russian PAZ buses somehow ended up in fifth place. Few of them were sold — 19 pieces, most likely — from warehouse leftovers. Perhaps these are the last Russian buses sold in Ukraine — in the future, their import to Ukraine, like other goods, is prohibited.
As for specific models of new buses, Etalon A08 is in first place by a large margin — 140 of them were bought. during January-June 2022. In second place are buses based on Ford Transit (36 pcs.), and in third place — Hyundai H350 (30 pcs.).
In total, there are five Ukrainian models in the top 10 new buses: in addition to the previously mentioned Etalon, Ataman A-093, Ataman A-092, ZAZ A08 and Bohdan A224. In addition to them, the Turkish Otokar Navigo T, the Japanese Toyota Hi Ace minibus and the Russian PAZ 4234, which will soon be removed from any Ukrainian ratings, were included in the rating.
- Standard A08 — 140 pcs.
- Ford Transit — 36 pcs.
- Hyundai H350 — 30 pcs.
- Ataman A-093 — 24 pcs.
- PAZ 4234 — 19 pcs.
- Ataman A-092 — 17 pcs.
- ZAZ A08 — 17 pcs.
- Otokar Navigo T — 12 pcs.
- Bohdan A224 — 12 pcs.
- Toyota Hi Ace — 10 pcs.
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