GM, JLR suspend car deliveries to Russian dealers

Carmakers including General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover have stopped delivering to Russian dealerships in response to the sharp slide in the value of the rouble.

The Russian currency has been hammered by slumping oil prices and Western sanctions imposed over Moscow's involvement in Ukraine, losing as much as 20 percent against the U.S. dollar this week and about half its value since the start of the year.

"In view of the volatility of rouble exchange rate and with the aim to manage its business risk, GM Russia has decided to temporarily suspend wholesaling of vehicles to its dealers in Russia as of Dec. 16," GM's European Opel division said.

Cadillac, Opel and Chevrolet vehicles already purchased by customers will be delivered at the agreed price, GM said, adding that it continued to monitor the situation.

Jaguar Land Rover, the British luxury carmaker owned by India's Tata Motors, said its Russian sales subsidiary had stopped selling vehicles to franchised dealers on Wednesday and would review the situation again on Friday.

The rouble's fall has prompted some companies that incur costs in other currencies, like Swedish furniture retailer IKEA, to increase the prices they charge Russian buyers.

Volkswagen's premium brand Audi also said it was postponing vehicle deliveries and may raise prices.

Rival BMW said it had already been redirecting new vehicles to stronger markets since Russian car demand slump began in the summer, while also adjusting prices.

Russia had been expected to overtake Germany as Europe's biggest auto market earlier this decade but that breakthrough has not happened and registrations are down 11.6 percent so far this year.