Russia’s Automotive Output Shows Solid Monthly Growth and a Push to Restart Foreign Production
Recent figures reveal that Russia’s automotive production in September rose by 1.5 times compared with September of the previous year and edged up 5 percent versus August this year. The data, presented at the International Automotive Science Forum (IASF-2023), was shared by Albert Karimov, who serves as Deputy Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The disclosure was reported by Interfax.
From a monthly perspective, production has climbed steadily since June. In September, nearly 60,000 vehicles were manufactured, representing a notable expansion over the previous year and a marked improvement from the previous month. Karimov highlighted that this September total reflects a 5 percent increase on the August figure from the prior year and a 45 percent rise compared with September of the prior year, underscoring a resilient trend in the country’s vehicle output.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized that the production gains cover not just passenger cars but also light commercial vehicles and trucks. The presented indicators, according to Karimov, are derived from EPTS registration data, lending credibility to the sector-wide progress across different vehicle segments.
Looking at the first nine months of the year, Karimov noted that the Russian new car market expanded by about 49 percent relative to the same period last year, crossing the 900,000-unit mark. Roughly half of these vehicles are domestically produced, signaling a meaningful domestic share in the market. One of the ministry’s strategic priorities is to restart production facilities of foreign companies that exited Russia, aiming to preserve and revive manufacturing capabilities within the country.
Earlier remarks indicated that the former Mercedes-Benz plant in the Moscow region is slated to begin Chery production, illustrating concrete steps toward reviving manufacturing infrastructure and broadening the domestic supplier base. The broader implication is a move to sustain employment, supply chain resilience, and regional industrial activity amid shifting global auto dynamics. [Interfax]