Plans to begin selling Evolute electric vehicles in Russia were announced for autumn 2022, according to the portal Chinese cars. The project was picked up by Motorinvest for implementation, with initial distribution concentrated in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, and Sochi. Local dealers in these regions would also handle service and warranty maintenance for the cars.
China or Russia
The Evolute name originated in Russia and was disclosed only after the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade announced private investment contracts under a program to promote environmentally friendly urban cars on a competitive basis. The ministry reportedly offered a simplified entry path into this program with a remarkably low threshold. Domains containing Evolute variants were registered or acquired by Motorinvest between February and May 2022, following the ministry’s competition results. Before this, Motorinvest did not manufacture electric vehicles, and at this stage there was no link to producing its own models.
Rather, the plan involved assembling electric vehicles from the Chinese automaker Dongfeng and its subsidiary Seres, with branding updated to Evolute for the Russian market. Details about localization using Russian components were not specified. The planned lineup for the new Russian automaker was to include five Chinese models: three crossovers, a sedan, and a minivan, with three of them expected to hit the market by year’s end.
What to collect
In May this year, several Evolute models were shown at an exhibition in Moscow. The first model set for Russia was the Evolute i-JOY crossover, also known as Seres 3 or DFSK Glory E3 in export markets.
In size, the electric car aligns closely with the Hyundai Creta SUV. The Seres 3 crossover had been exported to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Turkey, where it retailed around €35,000. Official sales figures were not disclosed. Per the Chinese manufacturer DFSK’s technical information, the car uses a 120 kW (163 hp) electric motor with 300 Nm of torque, delivering front-wheel drive. It can reach 150 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The 53 kWh battery enables a range of up to 405 km on the NEDC cycle. An 80% charge can be achieved in 30 minutes with a fast charger, while a standard plug takes about 8 hours.
The cabin for five passengers features standard heated front seats, with the driver’s seat offering electric adjustment. The vehicle includes a sporty leather multifunction steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with 360° parking visibility and wireless charging for smartphones. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not supported by the system. Six airbags provide standard safety, and there are driver-assistance features such as hill start assist, descent control, and cruise control. Three drive modes—normal, eco, and sporty—are included by default.
Another model introduced in Moscow was the i-PRO sedan, a clone of the 2020 Chinese model Dongfeng Aeolus E70, developed in collaboration with PSA (Peugeot Citroën). The sedan’s overall dimensions resemble those of the Kia Cerato. In China, it offered two power options—165 hp and 150 hp—and a battery that enables a range between 330 and 430 km depending on configuration. The interior included a pronounced dashboard panel combining the instrument cluster and multimedia screen. The starting price for the sedan in China was around 133,000 yuan.
Other planned models included the i-VAN minivan, a clone of the Dongfeng LingZhi EV, the Free crossover drawing design cues from Voyah Free, and the i-JET SUV resembling the Seres SF5.
Litigation and threat of bankruptcy
The Evolute launch was planned at Motorinvest’s site in the Rozhdestvo industrial park in the Lipetsk region. The company claimed investment commitments exceeding 13 billion rubles and projected production of over 240,000 cars within 11 years. However, the Motorinvest factory had been dormant for at least three years. A 2021 SPARK Interfax record showed a loss on revenue, and the enterprise’s production line historically relied on a screwdriver assembly method for Changan crossovers until its 2019 shutdown amid financial instability concerns. A Moscow region firm, Galreakhim, filed for bankruptcy proceedings against Motorinvest in early spring 2021, though the plant reportedly avoided bankruptcy by closing debts. The Unified State Register of Legal Entities records Motorinvest LLC as having a longstanding pledge with Centrocredit Bank since January 30, 2020, with five owners listed as pledgers, including founder Andrey Reznikov. In 2021, the company’s main owner data linked to a prior entity, Irito, which had been involved in distributing Great Wall vehicles in Russia since 2005. Great Wall pursued a separate legal claim in 2016 for $50 million, but the Moscow court dismissed the case, noting that the contracts were not with Irito directly. A fraud case related to this matter emerged in 2017. In 2019, the Russian Embassy and other officials pressed for closer oversight of the case. The present status of the investigation remains unclear.
From July onward, Motorinvest appointed Andrey Khanin as CEO, while a deputy head at the Ministry of Industry and Trade who oversaw automotive affairs, Alexander Morozov, left the ministry in May. Industry observers question the outlook for Evolute’s success. A prominent analyst cautions that past associations with Great Wall and the extended development saga have tarnished the project’s reputation, but notes that the E-NEVA initiative by Almaz-Antey offers a more comprehensive, robust path for advancing electric transport in Russia. A consultant emphasized that the Lipetsk plant could operate in SKD mode under the SPIC framework for the initial years of operation, effectively creating an assembly line rather than full-scale manufacturing, and described Evolute as a pilot that might influence subsidy structures and distribution dynamics. If pricing lands around 3 to 3.5 million rubles, a network of 20–25 dealers could drive several thousand annual units; significantly higher prices around 5–6 million rubles would curb volumes. The Lipetsk site reportedly needs technicians and factory workers while Motorinvest claimed an eventual workforce of around 2,000. A government loan program introduced in July offered up to a 35% price reduction on Evolute cars, capped at 925,000 rubles, according to minpromtorg. A radio commentator argued for electric passenger car development in Russia and noted continued questions about Evolute’s certification and clarity, yet expressed hope that state support would sustain the project. Attempts to obtain further information from Evolute’s press office did not yield a quick response.[citation: socialbites.ca]