The revival of the Volga brand in Nizhny Novgorod is a serious project that has generated great interest among dealers, said Alexey Podshchekolkin, head of the Association "Russian Automobile Dealers" (ROAD), to RBC.
According to Podshchekolkin, the project has an advantage: production is located not in Moscow, but in Nizhny Novgorod, where a strong automotive school and many specialists have historically developed, and wages are lower than in Moscow. However, he warned that if Volga prices increase by at least 10-15%, sales could fall by at least half.
With the launch of Volga cars, the Chinese brand Geely, on whose models the new "Volga" is based, will have to adjust its lineup. Nevertheless, there is no talk of the brand leaving Russia, the expert believes.
In his opinion, Geely will most likely remain as a brand for "sounding out" promising models – hybrids and electric vehicles. The company will maintain a presence "with one foot", as it is an international concern also focused on European markets. For Geely, this is a forced measure – to format its activities under current sanctions restrictions.
Earlier, the Volga company officially denied any cooperation with the Chinese brand, although externally and technically, the new Volga models (C50 sedan, K40 and K50 crossovers) practically copy Geely Preface, Atlas, and Monjaro.