JSC AVTOVAZ disclosed the completion of an agreement to acquire a stake in the authorized capital of LLC Nissan Manufacturing RUS. On February 7, 2023, the relevant documents were signed by AVTOVAZ President Maxim Sokolov and the Director General of FSUE NAMI, Fedor Nazarov.
The arrangement sees JSC AVTOVAZ obtaining a 99% share in the authorized capital of LLC Nissan Manufacturing RUS at a nominal price of 1 Euro, with payment settled in rubles at the exchange rate prevailing on the payment date. The deal also preserves a six-year call option allowing Nissan to repurchase the assets in Russia if a future government decision and approval are obtained, as stated by AVTOVAZ.
Industry observers note that the move integrates AVTOVAZ more deeply into Russia’s automotive manufacturing ecosystem, with potential implications for local supply chains, localization levels, and regional production capacity.
As the Russian administration continues to emphasize industrial localization, the role of AVTOVAZ in advancing domestic manufacturing is a focal point for policy discussions in Moscow and across neighboring markets.
Officials have highlighted the dual objective of restarting the St. Petersburg site’s production capabilities while driving a meaningful increase in the share of locally sourced components and materials in vehicles produced there.
In statements tied to the broader strategy, industry partners have outlined ambitious goals for the plant’s output in the mid-term horizon. Projections suggest that by the mid to late 2020s, the facility could reach substantial annual production volumes that would support regional demand and potentially export opportunities.
The St. Petersburg facility is seen as a linchpin in reflecting Russia’s commitment to automotive modernization, supplier development, and employment growth in the manufacturing sector. The agreement with Nissan Manufacturing RUS is positioned within this broader framework, signaling a pathway to increased localization and integration with regional automotive ecosystems.
Analysts in North America track these developments for insights into how Russian automotive manufacturing capabilities might interface with international supply networks and aftermarket services. The evolving ownership and production plans are being watched for potential impacts on regional mobility, consumer options, and industrial policy in North America as well.
Overall, the strategic steps undertaken by AVTOVAZ align with ongoing efforts to accelerate industrial output, upgrade technology, and strengthen the domestic automotive value chain while navigating the policy environment that governs asset ownership and localization mandates across the region.