New-car sales in Russia fell by 9.1 percent to 1.59 million for the full year after slipping just 2.1 percent in December to 166,666 vehicles, according to data from the Association of European Businesses.
The AEB said that it did not expect "significant changes" in demand for the coming year and forecast market growth of 2.1 percent to 1.63 million.
Despite the slight drop in December, Russia performed better than many other markets hit by government lockdowns to suppress the spread of COVID-19.
It was "one of the best performers among the biggest automotive markets worldwide, and No. 4 in Europe," Thomas Staertzel, chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee, said in a statement.
Russia's top-three-selling brands reported gains in December, with Lada maker and market leader AvtoVAZ up 14 percent. The No. 2-ranked brand, Kia, rose 11 percent, while third-place Hyundai also jumped 11 percent.
Renault fell 24 percent at No. 4, while fifth-place Skoda rose 6 percent ahead of Volkswagen brand, which decreased 5 percent to finish the month No. 6.
Peugeot brand was another notable winner, rising 35 percent.
Brand's that lost ground in December included Nissan (-40 percent), Toyota (-27 percent), Mitsubishi (-22 percent) and Mazda (-14 percent).
