In the latest quarterly results for this year, the Russian market registered 35 Moskvich 3e electric vehicles sold. The data comes from Avtostat, the analytics firm that tracks monthly and quarterly counts across the country. The Moskvich 3e stands out as a notable addition to the domestic line, highlighting Russia’s evolving approach to electric mobility despite broader shifts in the global automotive sector.
Within the domestic line, Evolute led early sales. The i-Pro was the top seller with 379 units, closely followed by the Evolute i-Joy with 173 units. Both models are produced at the Motorinvest plant in the Lipetsk region, illustrating how regional production sites are shaping the domestic EV landscape. The success of these models reflects a broader move toward electrified mobility in Russia, driven by local assembly, government incentives, and rising consumer awareness of electric options beyond traditional internal combustion vehicles.
From January through April, the market recorded 587 newly built electric vehicles sold under domestic brands, making up about 23.7 percent of the electric vehicle segment in that period. Imports also contributed significant volumes: 834 German vehicles, 616 from China, and 389 from the United States. German offerings, often associated with established brands and robust engineering, included Volkswagen models developed in collaboration with Voyah, while BYD and Zeekr represented Chinese manufacturers. In the American category, the Tesla lineup continued to draw attention, underscoring the United States as a major influence in the global EV market even as local production expands. These figures show a diversified import mix that complements Russia’s domestic production and points toward a more interconnected global EV ecosystem within the country.
The Moskvich 3e embodies a collaboration-inspired development, built on a platform derived from a Chinese manufacturer. The car features a powertrain delivering up to 193 horsepower, offering a balanced blend of performance and efficiency for urban driving and longer daily commutes. Its range on a single charge reaches about 410 kilometers, providing practical value for everyday use and longer trips without frequent recharging. The starting price for the Moskvich 3e sits around 3.5 million rubles, placing it in a competitive segment while reflecting current market pricing dynamics for electric vehicles in Russia. This pricing strategy aligns with a broader objective to increase accessibility to electric mobility for a wider pool of consumers while maintaining viable margins for manufacturers and dealers.
In April, a notable development emerged as Moskvich signed a contract to supply 2,000 electric vehicles for taxi services and car-sharing fleets. This move signals a strategic push to expand the operational footprint of electric vehicles in commercial and urban mobility, highlighting growing demand for dependable, cost-efficient electric solutions in fleet operations. The deal also underscores the potential for ride-hailing and shared mobility platforms to accelerate EV adoption in Russia by providing steady demand and route data that can inform further improvements in battery technology, charging infrastructure, and the total cost of ownership.
Earlier reports highlighted interest from regional leaders in accelerating the adoption of electric cars, including demonstrations of crash-testing by municipal officials. While some models may not yet be widely available for consumer purchase in Russia, these demonstrations emphasize ongoing evaluation of safety standards, vehicle durability, and consumer confidence as the market expands. The evolving regulatory environment, combined with continued investment in charging networks and energy infrastructure, forms part of a broader push to integrate electric mobility more deeply into daily life and urban planning. This ongoing evolution suggests that Russian consumers and businesses will continue to see a growing variety of electric options, supported by domestic production and coordinated import strategies, shaping a resilient and increasingly electrified automotive landscape across the country.
Citations: Avtostat for quarterly figures and market breakdowns.