The Moskvich plant is preparing for a transformation: new models will soon be assembled there. This includes the "Atom" electric vehicle and SAIC crossovers. The partnership with the Chinese brand JAC is in question. We provide more details about what happened.
Cars of the MG brand (owned by SAIC)
According to insiders, the capital's enterprise will soon switch to assembling crossovers of the MG brand. Russians know them from MG Rover cars. The car brand, glorified in the 2000s, now belongs to the Chinese company SAIC.
As it became known, vehicle type approval has already been obtained for two models that will be produced under the names "Moskvich M70" and "Moskvich M90."
The first model is identical to the MG HS crossover. Its dimensions are 4655 mm in length, 1890 mm in width, and 1890 mm in height, and the wheelbase is 2765 mm. This is comparable in size to the Geely Atlas and Haval F7 models — the latter is assembled in Russia.
It is likely that "Moskvich M70" will be available in two versions:
- with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 173 hp and a seven-speed robot;
- with a 2.0-liter engine with 231 hp and a nine-speed automatic.
Both versions will be equipped with front-wheel drive.
The "Moskvich M90" crossover will have a wheelbase of 2915 mm, and its length will be 4983 mm, which is six centimeters more than the "Moskvich 8" — the flagship car of the Russian plant.
In China, the "Moskvich M90" is sold under the name Roewe RX9. The car is equipped with a 2-liter engine with 242 horsepower. In Russia, the crossover will probably have an engine with 208 horsepower and a nine-speed ZF automatic transmission. The drive can be front or all-wheel drive.
Problems with JAC
Currently, the Moskvich plant is working with the Chinese manufacturer JAC and produces its rebranded cars. However, the hope for successful cooperation has not been justified. An example is the "Moskvich 5", which was presented in 2023, but it was not launched for sale, and in 2025 it was decided to abandon this model, releasing only a small number of cars for internal use.
"Moskvich 8" reached dealers with a delay. Its production was postponed for several months. There are also problems with the implementation of the "Moskvich 6" liftback. Car sales amount to only three thousand units. On the roads of Moscow and the Moscow region, such a liftback is still a rarity. The same cannot be said about the "Moskvich 3". There are many more of these cars, and they are actively purchased not only by "individuals", but also by government agencies.
Assembly of "Atom" electric vehicles
The "Atom" electric vehicle will be mass-produced at the Moskvich plant from the end of 2025. Two versions are provided: a standard four-seater version and a taxi model with three seats, without a front passenger seat.
"Atom" is a four-meter electric vehicle with rear-wheel drive and one electric motor with a capacity of 204 horsepower. It is equipped with a 77 kWh battery, which provides a range of up to 500 kilometers. The car will feature original technical solutions, such as a steering wheel with a built-in screen and swing doors without a central pillar. The model will not belong to the budget segment: its cost will be from 3 million to 4 million rubles.
It is difficult to expect that "Atom" will become a bestseller of the Moskvich plant, since it is planned to produce no more than 6,000 cars in 2026.
For comparison, in 2024, 7,600 Zeekr electric vehicles and 1,300 Moskvich 3e cars were sold in Russia. "Atom" will largely replace the "Moskvich 3e", which did not find its buyer.
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