KIEV, June 12 – Sales of new passenger cars in Ukraine in January to May 2009 fell by almost four times year-over-year, to 71,165 cars, which is 5.5% less than the same five-month indicator of 2004 (when 73,300 cars were sold), said Elena Dunina, head of AUTO International (Mazda, Suzuki).

She said that the pace of sales reflects the distressing prospects for the market.

"The results of May remain at April's level, which after the introduction of a 13% extra charge on the import duty on cars caused a negative trend (an 8.5% fall) after a slight revival of the car market in March," Dunina said.