During the Innoprom exhibition in Yekaterinburg, the Moskvich 6 liftback was unveiled in a version powered by a gas engine. This development was reported by Autostat, highlighting a move that aligns with broader efforts to diversify propulsion options in Russia and its neighbors while sparking interest among international markets, including Canada and the United States where fleet managers are increasingly evaluating low-emission alternatives.
In conjunction with a recently signed agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Moskvich Automobile Plant, production of gas-powered variants of the Moskvich 3 crossover and the Moskvich 6 liftback is slated to begin at RariTEK, the Naberezhnye Chelny facility. The formal statement underscores the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny as a pivotal site for this strategic expansion, signaling a deliberate shift toward domestic gas technology while aiming to serve northern and western markets that prize flexible fuel options and lower running costs over the long term.
Officials note that more than one thousand gas-powered Moskvich vehicles are expected to be produced by the end of 2024. This milestone reflects a scalable manufacturing plan designed to meet rising demand for alternative-fuel vehicles and to test North American and Canadian distributors’ appetite for a compact car lineup that blends familiar design with new propulsion choices.
Both gas-powered models use a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine delivering 136 horsepower and paired with a smooth-shifting transmission. The vehicle’s gas range is about 250 km, while the combined driving range on gasoline and natural gas can reach roughly 900 km. The pricing strategy places the gas versions about 120 thousand higher than their gasoline-only counterparts, a delta that manufacturers hope to justify through reduced fuel costs and potential incentive programs available in certain markets. For fleets and individual buyers across Canada and the United States, these figures translate into meaningful total-cost-of-ownership considerations when comparing natural gas options to traditional gasoline powertrains.
In related industry news, it has been stated that Aurus Senat activities in Russia will move toward hydrogen fuel, with a mass-production target under the name NAMI Hydrogen by 2029. The plan envisions a hydrogen variant that promises a refueling time of under one minute and a power reserve exceeding 800 km, attributes that could appeal to premium buyers seeking rapid refueling and extended range in harsh climates. The current testing regime includes extreme temperature conditions, ensuring the technology endures both very cold and very hot environments before any potential entry into broader markets, including North America, where hydrogen infrastructure remains uneven but expanding slowly in select regions.
Earlier reports mentioned that Zeekr, a Chinese brand, has presented a competitor to the Tesla Model Y. This development situates the Moskvich gas-powered lineup within a wider global context where several brands are pursuing alternative-fuel strategies to capture a portion of the shared electric and hydrogen mobility conversation that resonates with Canadian and American audiences seeking electrified and low-emission options for daily driving and expanding fleets.