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.
Avtozavod AGR, formerly known as Hyundai, is in talks with the government of St. Petersburg and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to conclude 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 to appear will be two crossovers under the Solaris brand, which will be adapted versions of Jaecoo (a Chery sub-brand) vehicles — the 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 lineup, 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 using the SKD (semi-knocked down) 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, so as not to jeopardize the loss of jobs. In May 2022, Renault decided to leave the Russian market. Prior to this, it sold 68% of its stake in AvtoVAZ, retaining the option to buy it back within six years.
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