Sarov’s Sollers group is advancing a significant project in the Ulyanovsk region aimed at producing automotive passive safety systems. The plan envisions investments reaching 1.5 billion rubles, a figure confirmed by the regional governor, Alexey Russkikh, as reported by TASS. The project’s scope centers on creating a fully domestic supply chain for key safety components, signaling a major step in Russia’s efforts to localize critical automotive technologies and reduce dependence on imported parts.
The stated objective is the domestication of passive safety systems for vehicles. Specifically, the initiative targets the manufacture of airbags along with the assembly of a steering column, a steering wheel, and seat belts within Russia. Governor Russkikh emphasized that these elements will be produced entirely within the country, underscoring a push toward nationalization of critical safety subsystems and a boost to regional industrial capacity. The emphasis on full domestic production aligns with broader strategies to strengthen local manufacturing ecosystems and promote self-reliance in automotive components.
At the Russian Forum, an agreement was signed to organize and accelerate the production process. Sollers plans for the plant to supply its safety system products to automobile manufacturers both within the Ulyanovsk region and in other parts of the country. The strategy includes using the produced components in regional vehicle assembly while opening supply channels to additional factories across Russia. Production of these safety components is slated to commence in the first quarter of 2025, marking a clear timeline for ramping up operations and integrating new capabilities into the domestic auto sector.
Nikolai Sobolev, the chief executive officer of Sollers, highlighted a strong localization trajectory for the project. He noted that localization will extend to magnesium alloys, an area in which Russia has not previously achieved extensive domestic production. This promise reflects a broader aim to elevate material self-sufficiency and create capabilities for advanced automotive technologies within the country. By pursuing high localization, the initiative seeks to build a more resilient supply chain able to withstand external shocks and inflationary pressures that can affect imported components.
Historically, the project has roots tied to a site formerly used by Volkswagen in Kaluga, where assembly operations for Chery crossovers began in past years. The relocation and redeployment of such facilities underscore a shift in the regional industrial landscape, as Russia continues to reposition manufacturing assets to align with strategic goals in the automotive sector. The current plan preserves continuity by repurposing existing industrial capacity while introducing new lines focused on safety system production and domestic material fabrication. Industry observers note that the success of this initiative will depend on skilled labor availability, supply chain coordination, and the alignment of regional and national incentives to support investment, tooling, and certification processes. The anticipated outcomes include increased local employment, elevated technical competencies, and a measurable rise in the share of domestic content within vehicle assemblies across multiple plants. The project’s trajectory also signals potential spillover effects for related sectors, including magnesium alloy casting, plastic molding, and precision metalworking, all pivotal to achieving the envisioned level of localization and quality control across the safety components produced. In addition to safety improvements, proponents argue that stronger domestic production ecosystems can contribute to broader economic stability and export potential in the automotive arena. These developments will be watched closely by industry partners and policymakers as they unfold, with the potential to set benchmarks for future localization efforts and domestic innovation in Russia’s automotive landscape.