OAO Moskvitch ceased car production in 2002 when it filed for bankruptcy, which was finalized in 2006. We first caught wind of the brand’s revival in May this year when Renault decided to sell its stake of 67.69% in AvtoVAZ at the Central Automotive Research and Development and Motor Institute of Russia (NAMI). The decision was made due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which also prompted Nissan to leave the country earlier this month.
Automotive News Europe quotes Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as saying that new Moskvich cars will start rolling off the assembly line as early as December 2022. When Renault sold its majority stake in the Renault Avtoframos plant, Sobyanin promised thousands of jobs would be kept in the renowned Moscow Automobile Plant. Moskvitch. The plant went out of business after Renault decided to leave Russia and hasn’t made any cars since then.
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The plan is to assemble 600 vehicles until the end of the year, including 200 purely electric. For 2023, Moskvich intends to increase production to 50,000 units. To achieve this, five billion rubles (about $82 million) are being invested in the plant according to an announcement made in August by the Moscow mayor’s office in association with Kamaz.
The truck manufacturer wants to find a partner to build cars, and DONKEY reports that it is partnering with JAC Motors. The Chinese automaker is expected to provide not only the design and engineering platform, but also the tools needed for the factory to build the cars.
It is worth mentioning that even though Renault has left Russia, the agreement it signed allows the French automaker to buy out its stake within the next six years. Nissan, which also sold its assets to NAMI for €1, has a similar deal meaning it could theoretically return anytime through 2029.
