Moscow will have its own automotive cluster, where they will develop their own platforms for future electric vehicles of the Moskvich plant. This was announced the previous day by the head of the city, Sergei Sobyanin, during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Now, due to the imposition of sanctions and the cessation of the supply and production of auto parts in Russia by foreign companies, the Russian auto industry has become unable to produce modern cars. For some models, the factories of AvtoVAZ, GAZ Group, UAZ, Sollers and KamAZ had to restore production to the level of the turn of the century.
Thus, Lada Xray left the AvtoVAZ model range, and the Vesta model, built on the Russian platform, is expected to be recommissioned at the main plants in Togliatti. Lada Granta received simplified versions, UAZ also offers cars with engines that meet the Euro-0 environmental class, as well as full-fledged equipment.
At the same time, domestic automobile factories are preparing to launch new models under changing conditions.
Especially AvtoVAZ, St. Petersburg announced the acquisition of the former Nissan plant from NAMI, where it confirmed its plans to start producing C- and D-class cars.
in 2023 planned To produce 10,000 vehicles and to ensure the localization of these vehicles with the participation of 30 component suppliers from this region until 2027, and to increase the annual circulation to 50-70 thousand vehicles.
Kaliningrad Avtotor continues to build and upgrade its production facilities, started the assembly of Chinese Kaiyi sedans, and previously the founder of the enterprise Vladimir Shcherbakov declaration It is planned to start the production of electric vehicles as of 2023 and to produce 50-60 thousand electric vehicles per year.
E-Neva, an electric vehicle developed by the Almaz-Antey concern, should also receive an electric drive. The prototype of the C-class crossover created by this organization, showed In January, St. To President Vladimir Putin during his visit to St. Petersburg.
path of least resistance
Compared to developing a domestic platform for cars, a cheaper and more obvious solution is the localization of a foreign model. But even this may turn out to be unprofitable, given the large number of machines and components manufactured in China and the corresponding low cost per unit of production, says Sergey Burgazliev, an independent automotive industry consultant.
“We can talk about localization with a circulation of 45,000 vehicles per year. The engine can be localized if the volume of production is more than 110-120 thousand cars per year, body parts – from 70 thousand.
If it is less, the cost of these parts turns out to be lower for a manufacturer that produces millions of cars in China,” Burgazliev explains to socialbites.ca.
From the point of view of the availability of technology in Russia, it is possible to localize quite a lot of components, including lists of specialists, tires, plastics, rubber products, stamping, casting, production of pistons and rings.
Burgazliev adds that Kaliningrad Avtotor made the right decision by organizing the production of cars of the Chinese brand Kaiyi, which is expected to be in high demand due to the lack of alternatives and the valuable characteristics of the model.
“As for developing a domestic platform, there is almost no one in our country to do it, which means we have to attract experts, and the development of the platform costs about 1.5-2 billion dollars.
There is no component base either,” he summarizes.
The expert believes that such costs are huge and most likely, automakers will choose the path of least resistance by localizing Chinese models or purchasing and adapting an old Chinese platform.
“AvtoVAZ’s St. The market needs the C and D segment cars it will produce in St. Petersburg, but at best they won’t start production until mid-summer. Also, AvtoVAZ has big problems with the resumption of production of Lada Vesta, now they are actively trying to solve them, ”says Burgazliev.
Common units are needed
A few years ago, the possibility of developing a single platform for the production of various brands of domestic cars was discussed in Russia, the partner of the Avtostat analytical agency, Igor Morzharetto, in the new conditions this idea has become relevant, but difficult to implement. , believes.
“The idea of switching to a single platform and engine was ridiculed a few years ago, but in the current circumstances it turns out to be relevant. I don’t believe a platform will be developed, but it is possible to switch to single units – eg engines. We have a lot of engine production and none of them are loaded more than 20%,” Morzharetto said in an interview with socialbites.ca.
In particular, Sollers promises to master the production of diesel engines with a volume of 2-3 liters, it is quite possible to install them on other cars, similar to AvtoVAZ engines, but he believes that this approach requires a state program, planning elements. .
Low demand for electric vehicles
According to Igor Morzharetto, the potential volume of the electric car market in Russia is not large enough to accept the volume of cars that domestic companies have announced they plan to produce.
“I know the plans of Avtotor, Moskvich, Evolute, but I do not believe in mass distribution of electric vehicles in Russia. If we summarize the plans of all automobile factories, they need to produce 15-20 thousand electric vehicles this year. I don’t think they’ll find a market,” says Morzharetto.
Last year, about 3 thousand electric cars were sold in Russia, in addition, the discount in the state program for electric cars has decreased and there have been no new preferences, and it is hard to believe that their sales have increased by 7 times. discusses.