New Stage for Former Volkswagen Plant: Tenet Crossover Non-Serial Production Starts in Kaluga

Non-serial production of Tenet cars has started in Kaluga. The plant, formerly owned by Volkswagen and now managed by AGR Automotive Group, has begun producing the first cars under the new Russian brand. Vladislav Shapsha, Governor of the Kaluga Region, reported that the plant's capacity does not yet meet the criteria for mass production, but the assembly rate is gradually increasing. The start of full-scale production is expected to be announced before the end of July.

The technical side of the project is of considerable interest. For example, photos of the Tenet T4 crossover based on the Chery Tiggo 4 have appeared on Chinese social networks. The car is being tested in China, and the prototype is equipped with an independent rear suspension and all-wheel drive. This is a significant difference from the original Tiggo 4 model, which was only equipped with a semi-independent beam and front-wheel drive. If the information is confirmed, the Russian Tenet T4 will be technically closer to the more expensive Tiggo 7 Pro Max and Omoda C5, which could become an important competitive advantage in the market.

Certification documents published earlier mentioned two gasoline engines: 1.5 and 1.6 liters, as well as three types of gearboxes - "mechanics", "robot" and classic "automatic". However, there was no mention of all-wheel drive in the official materials. This raises questions about which configuration of power plants the final version of the car will have. The appearance of all-wheel drive can expand the audience and increase the attractiveness of the model for regions with difficult road conditions.

Tenet T4 may be a serious competitor to crossovers such as Chery Tiggo 4, Omoda C5 and Exeed LX, as well as the Lada Azimut crossover recently presented at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

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