The plant, which previously belonged to General Motors in Shushary, has been idle for ten years. However, there is a possibility that it will start operating again before the end of 2025.
The company "Avtozavod AGR", formerly known as Hyundai, is negotiating with the government of St. Petersburg and the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the conclusion of a special investment contract. However, the key issue that remains unresolved is the amount of the recycling fee that will need to be paid.
Among the first models will be two crossovers under the Solaris brand, which will be adapted versions of Jaecoo cars (Chery sub-brand) — J7 and J8. Some of these cars have already been assembled at the existing AGR production site in Kamenka. However, it is not yet clear whether these cars will be available for sale through dealer networks or whether they will be sold as part of government procurement.
In the next three years, a business-class sedan may appear in the model range. Experts compare it to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Hongqi H5. It is comparable in size to the Toyota Camry, but smaller than the Hyundai Genesis H5.
Currently, there is no such model in the Jaecoo line, but there is a possibility that it will be created on the basis of another Chery sub-brand. It is noteworthy that if the J7 and J8 are assembled by the SKD method from car kits supplied from China, the future sedan will have a higher level of localization.
Earlier, AvtoVAZ asked the government and personally President Vladimir Putin not to allow Renault to return to Russia in order not to jeopardize the loss of jobs. In May 2022, Renault decided to leave the Russian market. Prior to that, it sold 68% of its stake in AvtoVAZ, retaining the option to buy it back within six years.
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