In the Lipetsk region, a new Russian electric car brand, Evolute, has kicked off mass production. The first model to roll off the line is the i-Pro electric sedan, which is also known as the Dongfeng Aeolus E70. By year’s end, the lineup is set to grow with the i-Joy crossover, representing the Fengon E3 EV from a Dongfeng–Sokon collaboration, and the i-Van minivan, marketed as the Dongfeng Forthing Lingzhi M5.
The Motorinvest plant is designed to produce as many as 100,000 electric vehicles annually. The current plan foresees producing about 2,000 vehicles by the close of this year. This production will take place under a special investment contract (SPIC) binding Motorinvest with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Lipetsk region. The SPIC allocates 13 billion rubles for electric vehicle production over the next 11 years, providing a clear roadmap for regional electrification in the sector (cite: Lipetsk regional government briefing).
Beyond assembly, the factory will eventually offer welding and painting of car bodies, though those workshops are scheduled to start operations next year. At present, the facility operates an assembly line staffed by 150 workers, delivering a new car every eight minutes. A regional government video report shows assembled sedan bodies that appear to be part of kits sourced from China (cite: Vesti Lipetsk video report).
As part of a broader support program, Evolute electric cars are included in the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s preferential loan initiative. Buyers can receive a substantial discount of 35 percent of the vehicle price, capped at 925,000 rubles, encouraging wider adoption of electric mobility within Russia and potentially influencing neighboring markets in North America through similar policy approaches (cite: Ministry program briefing).
The i-Pro sedan measures 4,680 millimeters in length, placing it just above the length of the Skoda Octavia. It is equipped with a 150-horsepower electric motor and offers an estimated range of 420 kilometers based on the older NEDC testing standard. Customers will be able to place orders starting in October, with a price tag of 2,990,000 rubles before discounts. Evolute dealers are initially positioned in major cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, and Sochi (cite: dealership rollout press release).
- In addition to Evolute’s assembly plans, Dongfeng is preparing to launch the Voyah Free premium crossover in the Russian market (cite: Dongfeng strategic briefing).
- Educational segments and vehicle reviews from channels like Behind the Wheel are available on RuTube (cite: RuTube channel listing).
Video: Youtube / Vesti Lipetsk