Hummer Performs Well in Russia, Sees Sales Boost in May

It seems like news regarding the Chinese's arrival at the helm of Hummer is a good thing after all as the brand is the only automaker to report a sales increase in Russia in May. Obviously, it's way too soon to talk about the changes brought by the Chinese owners but Hummer is performing well in Russia, despite the difficult economic environment.

According to data provided by the Association of European Businesses in the Russian Federation, Hummer improved its sales by 111.5 percent, which means the SUV manufacturer delivered a total of 129 units. Obviously, these figures are far from being impressive but, given the difficult economic situation and the uncertainty surrounding Hummer's future, this can be only good news.

"Today Hummer is a globally recognized brand with excellent growth prospects, both in terms of new markets and new products for our existing markets," said James Taylor, Hummer chief executive officer. "With Tengzhong's investment and strong support, we will be able to make our visions a reality. This transaction, if successful, will secure more than 3,000 U.S. jobs, and allow us to embark on a more aggressive global expansion, ensuring a successful future with our new partners."

As for the top 10 sellers in Russia in May, Lada is the clear leader of the chart, with three of its models reaching the podium: Lada Priora - 7,535 units, Lada Samara - 7,051 and Lada 2105/2107 - 5,868. Renault Logan is fourth with 5,657 units, followed by a another Lada, the Kalina, with 5,297 units and Ford Focus with 3,418 units.

As for the first five months of 2009, Lada is again topping the chart, with Priora, Samara and 2105/2107 once again on the podium. Ford Focus is now fourth while Renault Logan is only sixth.