Avtotor
Kaliningrad Avtotor has outlined plans to launch seven new factories by 2023, a roadmap that was first revealed last year and is being pursued despite tightened sanctions. The ambitious expansion centers on assembling electric vehicles and a wide range of auto parts at the new sites. Products will include electric motors, traction batteries, inverters, subframes, wiring harnesses, ventilation and climate control systems, plastic components, bumpers, and seats. Non-ferrous casting and processing workshops are also on the horizon as part of the diversification.
The project carries a long horizon with an investment target of 10 billion rubles over ten years. The trajectory signals a strategic shift for the Kaliningrad site, aiming to broaden its footprint beyond traditional models and into electrification.
At present, information about Kaliningrad’s electric vehicle program remains sparse. Valery Gorbunov, the head of Avtotor, suggested that any electric models would rely on a borrowed platform already adapted within Russia. At the moment, there is no domestic electric car production in the country. It is plausible that the E GMP architecture associated with the Hyundai group would be used. Mr. Gorbunov had contemplated bringing models such as the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 to the Russian market, with Korean manufacturers historically localizing vehicles in Russia. Even if these plans existed, officials have not publicly confirmed them.
On price, Gorbunov asserted that the car could be cheaper than Tesla. Given the premium status often associated with American electric vehicles, achieving a price advantage would be challenging, though not impossible in a market with evolving incentives and local production attributes.
Moscow
During a ceremony that marked a cooperation agreement between the Moscow government and KAMAZ, an illustrative lineup of five JAC models appeared in advance. The shown models included crossovers JS4 and S7, which are already sold in Russia, alongside Sehol X6 and Sehol A5 Plus, the latter serving as the successor to the J7 liftback.
The images circulated online, and shortly after KAMAZ clarified that the visuals were examples and did not reflect confirmed plans. A few days earlier, the factory had faced blocking sanctions as a military supplier, creating a sensitive environment for public relations among Chinese partners.
Regardless, the city council committed to enrolling around 600 Muscovites by year end, with approximately 200 expected to be part of the electric-vehicle program.
Be that as it may, the emphasis remains on monitoring the project’s progress and evaluating its feasibility against the broader regional strategy for mobility and electrification.
Evolve
Evolute electric cars are slated to roll off the Lipetsk region assembly line in September. The site has a history of intermittent activity, including periods when other brands experienced production pauses.
The Lipetsk facility, operated by Motorinvest, has pledged to invest 13 billion rubles over eleven years with a target of producing a quarter of a million vehicles. In the initial phase, three models will be introduced on the line, followed by two additional variants, bringing the total to five vehicles, including three crossovers, a sedan, and a minivan.
Dongfeng and Seres models are assembled under the Evolute brand in Russia, with the early designs shown alongside key specifications. The lineup includes Evolute iJet and iFree as two additional variants, along with the Evolute iJoy with origins tied to prior models.
The Evolute iJoy is linked to the DFSK Glory E3 and Seres 3 lineage from 2019, delivering around 163 horsepower and a driving range near 405 kilometers on a full charge. The Evolute iVan aligns with the Dongfeng LingZhi EV platform from 2020 and delivers about 123 horsepower with a range around 410 kilometers. The Evolute iPro continues the Dongfeng Aeolus E70 tradition offering roughly 150 horsepower and a range of about 420 kilometers.
In the near term, only three passenger models are actively produced in Russia: the Grant, the classic Niva, and the Patriot. This context makes it challenging to see multiple planned programs meeting their deadlines, but the pursuit of progress remains a driving aim. Progress may still appear in small, incremental steps rather than sweeping breakthroughs.
- Industry experts discuss how the auto sector could emerge from the current crisis, as explained by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
- Updates and analysis can also be found in official transportation channels and industry news feeds.