After a two-decade hiatus, Russia on Wednesday launched production of the Moskvich brand at a plant near Moscow given up by French carmaker Renault. The vehicle has a new, modern Chinese design that barely resembles the Soviet-era classic.
While the last Moskvich (“Muscovite”) was a basic three-box saloon or pedestrian hatchback, the Moskvich 3 is a muscular-looking petrol-powered crossover hatchback with alloy wheels, LED slit headlights and a large central touchscreen display.
Pictures of the car show that it looks identical to the Sehol X4 compact crossover made by China's JAC, also known as the JAC JS4. Sources told Reuters that JAC's design, engineering and platform were being used to produce the brand, with parts being delivered from that country.
In May, Renault sold its majority stake in carmaker Avtovaz to the Russian state, reportedly for just one rouble, but with a six-year option to buy it back. It sold its plant, now renamed the Moscow Automobile Factory Moskvich, for another rouble.
With just 600 vehicles slated for production this year, the new car is unlikely to alter the gloomy outlook for the wider industry, whose annual sales could end the year below one-million for the first time in Russia's modern history.
The government's ultimate target of producing 100,000 Moskvich vehicles a year, some of which will be electric, is far below the industry average for a car plant of 200,000 to 300,000. Tesla makes 22,000 cars a week at its Shanghai plant.
“The first Moskvich cars will come off the production line in December 2022,” truck-maker Kamaz, the plant's technological partner, said.
Western sanctions due to Russia's war on Ukraine have sorely hampered access to foreign-made components, while many foreign car manufacturers have left. Kamaz and the government have established new supply chains, but not disclosed details.
“The task for the near future is to establish small-node assembly processes with the involvement of local suppliers by the end of 2023,” industry and trade minister Denis Manturov said.
The launch of full-scale production would provide jobs for about 40,000 more people, said the ministry, adding that the car goes on sale in Russia next month.
Russia revives Soviet-era Moskvich brand with Chinese design
Image: Supplied
After a two-decade hiatus, Russia on Wednesday launched production of the Moskvich brand at a plant near Moscow given up by French carmaker Renault. The vehicle has a new, modern Chinese design that barely resembles the Soviet-era classic.
While the last Moskvich (“Muscovite”) was a basic three-box saloon or pedestrian hatchback, the Moskvich 3 is a muscular-looking petrol-powered crossover hatchback with alloy wheels, LED slit headlights and a large central touchscreen display.
Pictures of the car show that it looks identical to the Sehol X4 compact crossover made by China's JAC, also known as the JAC JS4. Sources told Reuters that JAC's design, engineering and platform were being used to produce the brand, with parts being delivered from that country.
In May, Renault sold its majority stake in carmaker Avtovaz to the Russian state, reportedly for just one rouble, but with a six-year option to buy it back. It sold its plant, now renamed the Moscow Automobile Factory Moskvich, for another rouble.
With just 600 vehicles slated for production this year, the new car is unlikely to alter the gloomy outlook for the wider industry, whose annual sales could end the year below one-million for the first time in Russia's modern history.
The government's ultimate target of producing 100,000 Moskvich vehicles a year, some of which will be electric, is far below the industry average for a car plant of 200,000 to 300,000. Tesla makes 22,000 cars a week at its Shanghai plant.
“The first Moskvich cars will come off the production line in December 2022,” truck-maker Kamaz, the plant's technological partner, said.
Western sanctions due to Russia's war on Ukraine have sorely hampered access to foreign-made components, while many foreign car manufacturers have left. Kamaz and the government have established new supply chains, but not disclosed details.
“The task for the near future is to establish small-node assembly processes with the involvement of local suppliers by the end of 2023,” industry and trade minister Denis Manturov said.
The launch of full-scale production would provide jobs for about 40,000 more people, said the ministry, adding that the car goes on sale in Russia next month.
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