(Recasts with top-10 position, other details)
MOSCOW, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Russia edged into the world’s top-10 auto markets in 2020 due to a relatively small drop in sales as the pandemic battered other markets, the Association of European Businesses said on Thursday, citing preliminary data.
Sales in 2020 totalled just under 1.6 million vehicles, down 9.1% on 2019, AEB said, a fall that was cushioned by a post-lockdown rush to buy cars by customers worried by the weakening rouble, as well as cheap car loans and state support.
Russia moved to 10th from 12th place in a global car market ranking based on the number of sales, AEB said in a presentation that showed sales down in all major markets except South Korea.