Avtodom, partnering with new investors, is moving toward assembling passenger cars at the former Mercedes-Benz facility in the Moscow region, with plans targeting 2024 as the start of production. This outlook comes from a briefing that cited Denis Manturov, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and was reported by RIA Novosti.
When asked about the timeline for launching operations at the former Mercedes-Benz plant in Russia, Manturov expressed cautious optimism. He stated that he expects the selected industrial partners to finalize their agreements and begin manufacturing in the coming year, underscoring progress in negotiations and readiness on the shop floor.
Manturov noted that the plant is already prepared for passenger car output. The equipment installed at the site has been adapted to support the assembly of such vehicles, which aligns with the strategic shift toward localized production in the region.
In April 2023, Avtodom, the dealer group, became the owner of the former Mercedes-Benz automotive facility in Russia. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed publicly, and the German parent company retained an option to repurchase its stake, a move that preserves strategic flexibility for both sides as market conditions evolve.
The Mercedes-Benz plant, located in the Esipovo Industrial Park in the Moscow region, began operations in the spring of 2019. Its production capacity is designed to support a full cycle output of roughly 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles per year, reflecting a significant foothold in the country’s automotive manufacturing landscape.
Earlier reports indicated that AvtoVAZ had resumed the production of station wagons and Largus minibuses as of August, marking another chapter in Russia’s evolving automotive industry. The broader context suggests a continuing trend toward domestic manufacturing and foreign affiliation realignments as market and regulatory environments shift.