PSMA Rus LLC’s Kaluga facility has restarted its operations after a pause that lasted since April 2022, according to information shared on the Kaluga regional government’s Telegram channel by Governor Vladislav Shapsha. The announcement confirms that the plant is moving back into production, signaling a significant step for the region and the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
Automobile Technologies, a partner in the project, will begin assembling crossover vehicles at the site. A pilot batch of 48 vehicles is expected to be completed by year’s end, with plans to scale up to mass production in 2024. The governor noted that interest will be high regarding the local assembly model and that an official announcement about sales and the scope of vehicle localization would come at the start of the commercial rollout.
Historically, the PSMA Rus LLC factory in Kaluga operated in a full-cycle mode, producing a range of vehicles including mini and compact vans as well as commercial vehicles, some of which were destined for European markets. The facility’s output previously included models under the Peugeot, Opel, and Citroën brands as part of broader manufacturing programs linked to foreign automakers.
The Kaluga plant had been slated to begin full-scale operations on December 18, but the ceremony to mark the launch was postponed to the following day, reflecting the careful attention paid to phased integration and production ramping in the current market environment.
Earlier reports noted that Avilon Auto Group was not involved in an acquisition of the Kaluga Hyundai plant, clarifying the ownership and strategic direction of the region’s automotive manufacturing assets. The ongoing developments at the Kaluga site underscore Russia’s broader industrial strategy to revive production facilities and sustain employment while exploring export opportunities and regional supply chain resilience.
For observers in North America, the revival of a multi-brand vehicle assembly capacity in Russia may raise questions about supply chain dynamics, potential parity with Western markets, and implications for regional automotive ecosystems. While this update centers on the Kaluga facility and its immediate plans, it also highlights wider themes around investment cycles, government partnerships in manufacturing, and the pace at which new vehicle types move from pilot runs to final sales. In the near term, the focus will be on the quality and consistency of the pilot production, the timeline for mass production, and the formal announcement detailing the specific models and assembly configurations that will be offered to customers both locally and in nearby markets. The restart signals a return to formalized output and a renewed commitment to sustaining manufacturing employment and regional industrial activity in Kaluga and the surrounding area.