New-car registrations in Russia increased 15 percent in May, the third consecutive month of higher sales.
Registrations rose to 124,990 vehicles, the Moscow-based Association of European Businesses in Russia (AEB) said.
The increase is a sign that the market is beginning to emerge from a four-year downturn.
Five-month sales are up 5.1 percent to 577,449.
Joerg Schreiber, AEB chairman, said in a statement that "the positive sales trend is carried by a majority of market players."
This was an important enabler for the recovery to turn into a lasting trend, he said.
Sales at market-leader Lada rose 22 percent in May, while volume at Kia, the country's No. 2 brand, rose by 26 percent. Third-placed Hyundai jumped 13 percent. Renault, at No. 4, saw registrations rise 22 percent, while sales at fifth-ranked Toyota grew 15 percent.
Among other key automakers, Volkswagen brand sales rose 28 percent, while Ford's registrations were up 12 percent and Nissan gained 7 percent.
- Download PDF here for Russia sales by automaker, brand and model for May.
The AEB has said it expects sales to grow by 4 percent this year as Russia rebounds from an economic crisis driven by low oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
