In the recent review of government vehicle acquisitions, the most frequently procured model under domestic assembly was the Moskvich 3/3e. The process reviewed allocations totaling 1.2 billion rubles dedicated to these purchases. Tenderplan, a news and analytics service focused on tenders, examined the government’s vehicle procurements over the first three quarters of 2023 to gauge trends and priorities in official transportation needs.
Industry observers calculated that roughly 500 units of this model were bought, with an average price range between 2.2 and 2.5 million rubles per vehicle. Following closely in the procurement rankings was the Lada Granta, which accounted for 525.4 million rubles in purchases. The third spot on the list went to the UAZ SGR, colloquially known as the Loaf, with purchases totaling 499.7 million rubles.
Tenderplan’s experts emphasized that government car spending does not automatically equate to buying vehicles solely for individual officials. In many cases, the purchases are driven by the operational needs of state institutions or official duties that require reliable transport for administrative tasks, regional coordination, or fieldwork. These essentials often justify procurement across various ministries, agencies, and municipal authorities.
Additionally, the study highlighted that the state did not acquire the most expensive domestic model, the Aurus limousine, during the initial three quarters of the year. The tender records show continued orders for several other popular models, including the Niva Travel for 341.1 million rubles, the UAZ Patriot for 227.2 million rubles, and the Lada Vesta for 168.5 million rubles. Other observable trends included purchases of the Niva Legend for 104 million rubles and the Haval F7 and F7x, which together accounted for 90.6 million rubles. The catalog of orders also listed the Haval Jolion and related variants for 75.6 million rubles and 63.8 million rubles, respectively.
In early September, President Vladimir Putin issued instructions directing the government, alongside regional authorities and with involvement from the Presidential Administration, to prioritize the use of domestically produced vehicles. The president requested a comprehensive report detailing the progress of this initiative by February 1 of the following year, outlining how procurement and usage will align with stated domestic production priorities and strategic mobility goals for the public sector.
Earlier coverage noted the scale of expenditure on Chinese-made vehicles by Russian residents in 2023, highlighting broader questions about the balance between domestic production, cost considerations, and the state’s strategic mobility needs. The current data underscores a nuanced approach to procurement, where decisions reflect both policy directives and practical requirements across government operations.
Experts point out that the ongoing assessments are not merely about choosing a single model. They involve evaluating vehicle reliability, maintenance networks, local industrial capacity, and the ability to meet diverse regional deployment needs. They also stress the importance of transparency in tender processes, as well as the role of independent analytics in interpreting how public funds are allocated and how these choices support broader economic and logistical objectives for the state.