Kaliningrad Avtotor plans to expand the number of Chinese brands manufactured at its facility, a move disclosed by the company’s chairman of the board, Valery Gorbunov. The disclosure was reported by RIA News.
Gorbunov indicated that the factory aims to introduce two additional Chinese auto brands this year, while concurrently widening its production line from nine current models to a total of 20 to 22 models. This marks a significant shift in the plant’s output strategy and signals a broader push into the Chinese automotive segment for the region.
At present, Avtotor streams include Kaiyi E5 sedans, BAIC X35 crossovers, and BAIC U5 Plus sedans, alongside three SWM crossovers (G01, G01F, and G05 Pro). The roadmap also contemplates bringing the BAIC X55 and the BAIC BJ40 SUVs into production, as well as introducing Kaiyi X3 and X3 Pro crossovers in the near term, aligning with the broader ambitions to diversify and expand the factory’s portfolio.
In addition to these plans, the company outlined ambitions for the production of compact electric vehicles, with a dedicated plant for EV manufacturing slated to begin development in the near future. This initiative underscores Avtotor’s intent to tap into the growing demand for electric mobility across North American markets, while maintaining a strong focus on the Russian manufacturing ecosystem and its export channels.
Previously, industry observers noted Avtotor’s role in the regional automotive landscape, including coverage of extended product lines and emerging models. The ongoing evolution of the plant’s lineup reflects both strategic partnerships with Chinese automakers and the evolving preferences of consumers in North America and beyond.