Auto sales have fallen over 60% so far this year, and may end up being less than a quarter of what they were a decade ago, according to Maxim Sokolov, head of Russia's top carmaker Avtovaz.But much is also due to falling living standards and higher prices, as well as the difficulty of securing foreign-made components after the imposition of a barrage of sanctions by Western countries in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine; the latest Lada model has had to be produced without airbags or anti-lock brakes.Speaking with top officials, Putin acknowledged that the situation was "not easy", and asked the government to look at making cars more affordable, suggesting that prices were being raised unfairly."THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION"Trade Minister Denis Manturov told Putin that assembly lines were being ramped up at Russia's domestic carmakers - including Avtovaz, maker of the Lada and a Renault subsidiary until May, GAZ, Kamaz and UAZ.This compares to sales of around 3 million units a year as recently as 2012 - before a plunge induced in part by a previous wave of sanctions in 2014, after Russia unilaterally annexed Crimea from Ukraine."