The Volvo facility in the Kaluga region is set to restart operations in 2023, with aims to scale up to full capacity in the near term. This update came from Vladislav Shapsha, the regional head, during a live broadcast on VKontakte. He noted that a meeting with the plant’s new leadership is scheduled for the coming week to align the transition plan and production targets.
Shapsha indicated that preparations are already in motion to reopen the site within the current year, signaling a deliberate return to steady output after a period of adjustment. He projected that the Kaluga plant would operate at full capacity by 2024, while also acknowledging changes in the ownership landscape surrounding nearby automotive facilities, including Volkswagen’s factory. The regional authorities are maintaining close collaboration with the new management, understanding that restarting large manufacturing operations involves a careful, multi-step process that cannot be rushed.
According to the governor, all local automotive plants will resume operations in their respective sectors, preserving their established activities rather than shifting to alternate lines of business. The plan emphasizes continuity and a phased ramp-up that respects each plant’s core competencies and market commitments, ensuring a stable revival across the Kaluga corridor.
Mid-August observations from the Russian government noted the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga commencing car production again, signaling renewed activity in the region’s automotive cluster. This development aligns with broader expectations for the Kaluga area, where several facilities have been undergoing transitions under new leadership and strategic directions. The evolving situation underscores the importance of predictable government support and clear enterprise-level governance in restoring full-scale manufacturing across multiple plants.
Earlier discussions and public remarks suggested that the Kaluga Volkswagen operation would resume carmaking as part of a broader restructuring, while the possibility that the plant would revert to unrelated production was not a primary consideration. Authorities have stressed that a return to the prior business mix is unlikely, and the focus remains on reactivating automotive production in line with market demand and long-term industrial plans.