In Russia, the former Renault factory is now used to manufacture a Chinese SUV under Moskvitch license. Yandex company ordered 3,000 copies for taxi and car-sharing services.
For a year, the war between Russia and Ukraine has been ravaging. It also leads to other consequences, such as a total collapse of the Russian car market, deserted by manufacturers. This is particularly the case of Renault, which completely abandoned its activities in the country and sold its shares in the manufacturer Avtovaz and its factory for a symbolic ruble. The Russian state bought the facilities and revived the Moskvitch brand after 20 years of disappearance to motorize the population again.
A partnership with the truck manufacturer Kamaz was set up to relaunch Moskvitch, and the production lines of the factory south of Moscow were quickly transformed to accommodate a first model, the Moskvitch 3, from November 2022. Easy, since it is actually a Chinese SUV produced under license using kits provided by the manufacturer JAC Motors. In China, the SUV is called Sehol X4. It is available in thermal version (manual or automatic transmission) or electric.
Production estimated at 50,000 units this year
In a press release, the Moskvitch brand welcomes this launch, and announces that it has received an order for 3,000 copies of its SUV. The client is Yandex, a local giant known for being a search engine but also a mobility provider. In particular, it offers a service similar to that of Uber. The vehicles will therefore be used for a fleet of taxis, but also for a car-sharing service. Initially, they will be confined to Moscow and its outskirts, before being extended to other regions.
According to the statement, “the Moscow taxi market and short-term rental services need 30,000 to 40,000 new cars per year”. This therefore still leaves a little margin, knowing that the Moskvich plant plans to assemble 50,000 vehicles in 2023, including 10,000 units with electric motors.
Renault, for its part, produced in its factory about 400,000 vehicles a year before the war. The plant notably manufactured the Kaptur (with a K), a converted Renault Captur for the Russian market, as well as the Arkana and the Dacia Duster under the Renault badge.
Photos : DR
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