South Korea has halted exports of lithium-ion batteries to Russia, including those used in electric vehicles, as part of a broadened sanctions regime. The move affects Russia’s main supplier of Korean-origin batteries, Enertech, which has been under Rosatom’s control since 2022, according to Kommersant. The decision underscores how political measures can ripple through the global supply chain for energy storage and mobility. Analysts note that the restriction narrows the options available to Russia’s state-backed manufacturing ecosystem and may prompt officials to examine alternate sources while weighing potential exemptions for certain entities deemed critical or compliant with broader policy goals.
The material ban risks complicating operations at Russia-based assembly facilities that rely on Korean batteries. Industry experts say the restriction could accelerate momentum behind domestic or diversified sourcing strategies, including potential collaborations with other suppliers or accelerated approvals for specific end users. In parallel, South Korean authorities may consider calibrated exceptions for select entities that meet strategic or humanitarian criteria, aiming to preserve critical public services and transportation needs while maintaining the integrity of the sanction framework.
In September 2023, news emerged that the Renera company planned to establish a new gigafactory with a production capacity of 4 GWh per year in Krasnaya Pakhra, within the Troitsky district of Moscow. The mayor’s office stated that Renera had signed an agreement with Mosgortrans, a state-owned transport operator, to supply more than 155 thousand traction batteries intended for electric buses and other electric vehicles branded as Moskvich. This development is part of a broader push to electrify city fleets and expand the local manufacturing footprint for energy storage products that support urban transit and light-duty electric vehicles.
Initially, the project was expected to proceed through a competitive bidding process, but the tender did not materialize. Meanwhile, Rosatom has outlined additional plans for vehicle production. In 2022, Renera acquired a stake valued at 6.2 billion rubles in JSC Kama, a company pursuing the production of electric vehicles under the Atom brand. The strategic moves point to a concerted effort to integrate battery supply, vehicle assembly, and public transportation markets within Russia, leveraging state investment and industrial partnerships to advance energy-efficient mobility adoption.
Erdoğan’s former wife emerged as one of the early private owners of Turkish TOGG electric cars, a sign of growing consumer acceptance for domestically produced electric vehicles in Turkey. The entry of prominent buyers into the TOGG ecosystem highlights how electric mobility is spreading across regional markets and shaping consumer demand, while also emphasizing the role of brand identity and national manufacturing narratives in the global EV landscape.