Kaliningrad hosts more than Chinese automakers at the Avtotor plant, with other Asian manufacturers also taking part in the assembly process. The regional governor, Anton Alikhanov, made this clear in remarks reported by TASS. He noted that Avtotor is negotiating with additional Asian producers, though he did not specify the countries involved. According to Alikhanov, the company is engaging with firms that are not from China, highlighting a broader regional manufacturing scope that goes beyond a single origin. These comments came after a meeting of the State Council SME Commission.
Earlier comments from Alikhanov at the end of last year indicated that Avtotor had reached agreements with three Chinese companies. Since that time, one of those collaborations has been publicly announced, with Avtotor beginning Kaiyi vehicle production at the end of January. This marks a significant milestone for the Kaliningrad facility as it expands its lineup and production capabilities amid ongoing partnerships.
The Russian market saw the Kaiyi E5 sedan as the first model to roll off the line for local consumers, with plans to introduce three additional Kaiyi models before year end. The modernization work for the Kaiyi E5 line required more than 100 million rubles, a considerable investment by the company which has previously produced BMW, Kia, and Hyundai vehicles at the same site. Earlier reporting suggested that the Kaiyi E5 could carry a starting price near 1.6 million rubles, underscoring the brand’s positioning in the midrange segment. These developments reflect Avtotor’s strategic push to diversify production and leverage regional manufacturing strengths.
There is also information circulating that Avtotor may begin assembling vehicles from additional Chinese brands such as BAIC and Dongfeng. The emergence of multiple partnerships indicates a broader plan to broaden the product mix and expand production capacity at the Kaliningrad site, aligning with regional economic goals and the evolving landscape of automotive manufacturing in Russia.