Malaysia and the Aurus: a potential entry in the royal garage
The recent discussions around Malaysia’s royal succession have sparked interest in the Aurus, a high-end luxury automobile from Russia. Reports from RIA Novosti, citing Kuala Lumpur-based diplomat Nail Latypov, say the new Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has shown curiosity about the Aurus brand.
Latypov noted that during their conversation the Sultan expressed a clear curiosity about the Aurus. He also highlighted that the ongoing accession process naturally took precedence, but stressed that there could be an opportunity to position an Aurus in the royal garage one day. The diplomat added that the Sultan prefers to drive his own vehicles, and already maintains a substantial collection.
This interest comes as Aurus expands its footprint in the Middle East. After the United Arab Emirates began assembling Aurus models, production activities moved to a facility in Abu Dhabi. The initial locally assembled model was the Aurus Senat sedan. Plans for the region include starting assembly of Komendant crossovers and launching a dedicated showroom for sales and customization to serve Middle Eastern buyers. The aim is to broaden Aurus’ presence and brand recognition across the Middle East over time (RIA Novosti).
In related remarks, it has been reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not travel in foreign-made vehicles (RIA Novosti).