Moscow’s deputy mayor responsible for transport and road infrastructure, Maxim Liksutov, outlined strategic plans for the former Renault plant in a discussion with Moscow 24 TV. He explained how the project fits into the city’s broader transportation goals and what the next steps look like for the facility.
City leadership, led by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, has moved to place the site on the city’s balance sheet and to restart production of vehicles under the historic Moskvich brand. The move signals a shift toward state-backed industrial activity and a clear intent to keep production under national control while leveraging local expertise and resources.
The Moskvich plant is being considered for producing vehicles tailored to taxi fleets and carsharing services. Liksutov noted that technical pathways are being explored to enable this at speed, with the aim of delivering usable, market-ready models in a relatively short timeframe. He stressed that the city will not consider a buyback option with Renault and that ownership will remain with the Russian state and its partners.
According to Liksutov, the initial focus is on ensuring that all essential components originate from the Russian Federation. He acknowledged that sourcing every part domestically is a complex process that cannot be completed overnight, but the plan is to establish a robust local supply chain. Moscow intends to place firm orders with the factory in collaboration with city taxi and car-sharing operators, providing a clear demand signal that helps define the car types, features, and target customers the plant should serve. This approach is meant to give the factory a concrete view of its future markets and the standards it must meet.
The possibility of Renault returning to Russia in the future has been a topic of discussion at the corporate level. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has previously commented on this scenario, signaling that while current plans emphasize Russian ownership, the door could reopen under different conditions if market and political factors align. This context underscores the evolving nature of the project and the potential for future partnerships or shifts in strategy, depending on how the market develops and what regulatory frameworks are in place. [Attribution: Renault Group statements and public remarks by Luca de Meo]
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