The Voronezh-based "Kvant" plant, the only manufacturer of TVs included in the Ministry of Industry and Trade's register of Russian radio-electronic products, has suspended the assembly of Irbis brand models. The decision is due to low demand: government procurement is oriented towards foreign brands, and retail buyers consider domestic products too expensive.
According to Kommersant's sources, Mikhail Etonov, General Director of "Kvant" LLC, notified market participants about the suspension of production of all TV diagonals (32–65 inches) until the end of the third quarter of 2025. The main reasons cited were lengthy procedures for оформление документов для реестра Минпромторга и отсутствие экономической целесообразности. The plant, which owns four assembly lines with a capacity of up to 3.5 thousand units per shift, received revenue of 15.9 billion rubles in 2023 with a net profit of 3.2 million rubles.
Experts note that Irbis TVs occupied 10–15% of the market, lagging behind South Korean LG, Samsung, and Chinese Xiaomi. Experts note that government customers prefer foreign brands, and retail buyers are not willing to overpay for Russian assembly.
In 2024, the volume of government procurement of TVs increased by 15%, reaching 4.6 thousand tenders, but 90% of contracts went to foreign brands.
Market representatives suggest that the Irbis niche will be taken by South Korean companies, which are considering returning to Russia. Previously, "Kvant", having lost supplies of components from Chinese partners due to sanctions, began construction of a plant in Kazakhstan.
Read also on the topic:
Switching: Russian Xiaomi and TCL plant may move production to Kazakhstan
Production of Hi and Carrera TVs launched at the former Samsung plant in Kaluga
Chinese company Hisense will set up assembly of interactive displays in Russia