MOSCOW: Sales of new cars in Russia fell by 51.8pc in May year on year to 63,033 vehicles after a 72.4pc decline in the previous month, the Association of European Businesses (AEB) said on Thursday.

The AEB said it hoped the situation on the market would improve in June thanks to the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions.

Russia eased some restrictions in May after President Vladimir Putin announced a non-working period in late March to stop the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the economy grinding to a halt.