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TRUE OR FALSE: luxury cars paid for by Western aid to Ukraine?
TRUE OR FALSE: luxury cars paid for by Western aid to Ukraine?
(franceinfo)
On social networks, Internet users are wondering about the presence of many luxury cars in Ukraine, while the country is still at war. Explanations.
Luxury cars paid for by Western aid provided to Ukraine: this is one of the accusations relayed by Internet users in recent days. Over the past few months, the Ukrainian newspaper Economic Pravda has analyzed registration data provided by the Ukrainian government. The media observes an increase in sales of so-called “elite” new cars, from brands like Mercedes, BMW and Porsche.
In total, 1,775 “premium” cars were registered in the second quarter in Ukraine, a figure that has increased in recent months. Specialists in the country’s automotive sector explain this fact by “general growth of the automobile market in Ukraine“, particularly “on new cars“. However, “the premium and luxury sector is not growing so quickly. In reality, many people lost their vehicles during the war.“, analyzes Vitaly Novak, automotive journalist.
Sales of premium cars in 2024 are indeed at the level before the Russian invasion. After a sharp decline at the start of the war, Ukrainian economic growth has started to rise again, reaching 5% in 2023.