The rules, reported by Autonews.ru and cited by The Moscow Times, apply to parallel imports — unofficial deliveries of cars from global brands manufactured at joint ventures in China. Manufacturers will have to submit documents on repair operations, equipment data, photographs of service areas, staff qualification records and proof that spare parts are available.
Vasily Mayorov, chief operating officer at the Avtoveyto dealership, said the requirements could affect Chinese-assembled BMW, Audi and Volkswagen models.
Yuri Blinov, marketing director at Avilon, cited Toyota as an example, noting that dealer centers and service facilities for the brand continue to operate in Russia. Their presence does not guarantee that the company will agree to issue a Chinese exporter the document needed for deliveries, he said. The same applies to BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes, which have halted official supplies to Russia.
Vadim Tedeev, managing partner at IPM Consulting, said Haval, Geely and Changan already have dealer and service networks. He named Xiaomi and Zeekr as at risk, saying they have no certified service in Russia.
Speaking on TV Rain, automotive journalist Alexei Mochalov linked the new rules to China's intention to control gray imports. He said the requirements can be circumvented: a car would need to sit in China for 180 days and could then be brought in as a used vehicle with zero mileage. "Water will find a hole," he said.
Mayorov estimates that models will rise in price by 5-10% at the first stage, with a larger increase possible if shortages emerge. Mochalov was less categorical, putting the price change at 3-5%. He also noted that buyers will encounter cars that have stood for six months in dusty parking lots.
Artur Leer, president of the Association of Exporters and Importers, said a significant share of cars already reaches Russia through Kyrgyzstan and Belarus, and that suppliers will be able to restructure their logistics.