Moscow is moving toward a new electric vehicle program that centers on local production, with city officials outlining a plan to establish a Russian electric vehicle platform at the Moskvich plant within the next two years. This development was reported by the agency TASS and comes as Moscow intensifies its automotive strategy amid broader debates about domestic manufacturing.
In a recent meeting, President Vladimir Putin and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin discussed a range of topics related to industrial policy and transport. The conversation underscored the city’s commitment to reshaping its automotive landscape, including actions that could accelerate the return of light vehicles to the streets. The talks highlighted Moscow’s resolve to bolster manufacturing capacity while steering the sector toward electrification, a key priority for city leadership and national policymakers alike.
Sobyanin stated that the green light was given for creating an electric vehicle cluster in Moscow, a signal that aligns with Putin’s broader industrial agenda. He noted that the revival of Moskvich production would proceed on the basis of former Renault facilities, despite earlier pressures that suggested obstacles to local car manufacturing. This path mirrors a broader trend of reviving historic automotive brands through renewed domestic collaboration and modernizing the supply chain for electric powertrains and related components.
According to the mayor, the timeline envisions a functional domestic platform within two years, capable of supporting the design, development, and manufacture of electric vehicles suited to Russian road conditions and consumer needs. The plan also anticipates staged expansion, with subsequent launch of a line of locally produced vehicles in the ensuing years, reinforcing Moscow’s status as a center of automotive innovation and urban mobility experimentation.
Earlier steps involved Moskvich announcing partnerships with a network of 11 dealership partners across Moscow to facilitate market access and aftersales support. These relationships are positioned to underpin a reimagined distribution model that could play a crucial role in ensuring nationwide availability as production scales. The partnerships reflect a strategic approach to market penetration, customer education, and service infrastructure required for a successful transition to electric vehicles.
Industry observers note that the Moskvich plant is anticipated to reach full operational capacity through 2023 and beyond, with projections suggesting the introduction of up to 50,000 cars for the domestic market. Some of these vehicles may participate in city car-sharing programs in Moscow, the surrounding region, and other parts of Russia, providing a real-world testing ground for urban mobility solutions and the viability of electrified fleets. The plan emphasizes not only private consumer adoption but also the potential for shared mobility to reshape how residents access and use transportation.
As Moscow advances its electric vehicle initiative, officials stress that the program is part of a wider strategy to expand domestic manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported components, and bolster regional innovation ecosystems. The evolving scenario points to a future where a homegrown platform could serve as a cornerstone for national car production, linking historic industrial heritage with contemporary electrification, software, and battery technology development. The unfolding story will be watched closely by industry partners and policymakers eager to see how local manufacturing can scale while delivering practical benefits for urban residents and the broader economy. attribution: Source: TASS