Avtodom Partners with Mercedes-Benz Rus and Foton to Import Toano into Russia
The Avtodom car dealership, together with its Russian distributor, formerly the Mercedes-Benz representative now operating under JSC MB Rus, has reached an agreement with the Chinese automaker Foton. The collaboration grants Avtodom the rights to import the Foton Toano model into the Russian market, a move that signals an expansion of the brand’s presence in the region. This development was reported in My Engine, the source cited for the arrangement.
Plans call for the sale of Foton vehicles through a direct dealer network to begin in August 2023. The Toano lineup is expected to be offered in two distinct configurations tailored to commercial use. One version comprises all-metal pickup trucks with a permissible gross vehicle weight ranging from 3.5 to 4.2 tons, designed to handle demanding workloads with reliability. The other configuration envisions a 16-seat passenger bus, aimed at small to mid-sized shuttle operations, corporate transport fleets, and regional transit needs. This dual-variant approach aligns with market demand for versatile, business-friendly transport solutions in Russia, enabling companies to optimize fleet management and reduce operating costs through standardized, fleet-ready vehicles.
Andrey Olkhovsky, the president of Avtodom, expressed optimism that the Foton Toano will quickly gain traction among businesses seeking efficient fleet management options. The emphasis on practicality and cost efficiency reflects the broader strategic objective of Avtodom to broaden its commercial vehicle portfolio and offer a broader spectrum of mobility solutions to corporate clients. By aligning with Foton, the company aims to provide vehicles that combine robust build quality with economical operation, making them appealing for companies looking to streamline logistics and daily operations across varied sectors.
The Toano model itself draws stylistic inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, a familiar reference point for customers evaluating medium-duty commercial vans. Under the hood, the vehicle is powered by a Cummins 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine delivering 160 horsepower, a specification chosen to balance power with fuel efficiency for a wide range of transport tasks. The Toano’s exterior dimensions vary, with body lengths spanning from 4.9 meters to 6 meters to accommodate different payloads and interior configurations. Options include extended wheelbases and higher roof lines, enabling crews to adapt the vehicle to specific workplace requirements and cargo needs. This emphasis on modularity is designed to make the Toano a flexible tool for both cargo and passenger applications in metropolitan and regional settings alike.
Separately, industry observers have noted developments concerning AvtoVAZ, with reports indicating that on June 14 it was announced that automobile production would commence at the former Nissan plant in Saint Petersburg. This milestone reflects broader efforts within the Russian automotive sector to leverage existing industrial assets and labor force to support domestic manufacturing capacity in the wake of shifting regional trade and supply chain dynamics. The convergence of these projects underscores a broader push toward enhancing local production capabilities and expanding the variety of vehicles available to Russian fleets and individual consumers alike, as manufacturers seek to balance import activity with homegrown assembly to meet evolving market demands.