An unusual city electric car was being prepared in Russia, which could have become the cheapest EV in the country. The car was estimated at approximately 1 million rubles, and its main feature was supposed to be a scheme with a "subscription" battery: the battery was planned to be leased separately with small monthly payments. But now the project launch, it seems, is postponed indefinitely.
The electric car project has already been shown to the public
The compact two-door electric car was shown back in 2024. It was a "live" mock-up of the car with the logos of the "AmberAuto" brand, owned by the Kaliningrad plant "Avtotor". The car immediately attracted attention with its unusual design and "three-tier" front optics.
The electric car was developed by the advanced engineering school of electric transport, associated with Moscow Polytechnic. The creators stated that the car would be assembled exclusively from Russian components.
Body — made of polymers, speed — up to 85 km/h
Initially, the model was planned to be launched into production in 2025. Several versions of the electric car were to be put on the conveyor at once: a regular four-seater passenger version and a commercial modification with two seats and an enlarged cargo compartment.
The car's body was planned to be made of polymer materials. Under the hood, there was supposed to be an electric motor with a power of up to 20 horsepower. The maximum speed of the electric car was declared at 85 km/h, and the range on a single charge — up to 300 kilometers.
Cost and "subscription" battery
The preliminary cost of the car was estimated at approximately 1 million rubles. This would automatically make the model the most affordable electric car on the Russian market. At the same time, according to available data, the price did not include the battery.
According to the developers' idea, the battery was planned to be leased with small monthly payments. If the battery capacity dropped to 70%, it was supposed to be replaced with a new one.
What is the situation in the electric car market in Russia
Electric cars are a noticeable segment of the Russian car market. EVs have not yet become mass transport, but they are no longer completely exotic. According to "Autostat", 12.5 thousand cars were sold in 2025.
From January to April 2026, 3,178 new electric cars were sold in Russia, which is 20% more than in the same period of 2025.
There are already several electric car projects on the domestic market, but they all differ in characteristics. Evolute i-JOY, for example, is a compact crossover with a 163 hp engine, a battery of about 51.9 kWh, and a range of up to 386 km. "Moskvich 3e" is larger and more powerful: it has front-wheel drive, a 65.7 kWh battery, 340 Nm of torque, and a range of up to 410 km. There is also "AmberAuto A5" with a 160 hp engine, a 60.2 kWh battery, acceleration to 100 km/h in 10.2 seconds, and a range of up to 520 km. The "Atom" project claims rear-wheel drive, about 204 hp, a 77 kWh battery, acceleration to 100 km/h in about 8 seconds, and a range of up to 500 km.