The Moscow authorities want to revive the Moskvitch brand, which dates from the Soviet era and did not survive capitalism. The Chinese manufacturer JAC is being considered to accelerate the start-up of the factory that had belonged to Renault.
The Renault Group has been the most affected by the crisis in the automobile industry in Russia due to the effect of international sanctions. Although there was capacity to return to work, which was a couple of days, Renault ended up throwing in the towel due to the pressure. He sold off his assets and wrote them off.
But the Moscow authorities don’t want to lose any more jobs, so they need to go back to making vehicles. We already know that the brand Moskvitch, which means ‘Muscovite’, is to be brought back to life in the Soviet style, by political initiative. Not being able to use the Renault bases, they need something else.
The development of a modern car requires huge amounts of money and a minimum of two to three years, and neither one nor the other is available. Truck manufacturer Kamaz is in the spotlight, but let’s say you don’t have a catalog of passenger cars that can be put into production. Foreign collaboration is needed.
Reports the Russian media Vedomosti that Kamaz is in talks with the Chinese manufacturer J.A.C., with whom he was already cooperating on other matters. According to his sources, who were not identified, production could start in the fourth quarter of this year from a highlighted JAC model.
Meanwhile, the Moscow authorities are negotiating with another Chinese manufacturer, it is unknown which one, for the same purpose. In other words, the Russians are trying to get the Chinese to “give” them (it will not be free) one or more models already developed and in production to put the Moskvitch shield on them.
In the past it was rather the other way around, the Chinese made Soviet-produced models, but in the 21st century the automobile industry in China is much more advanced than the Russian one, even though AvtoVAZ (the parent company of Lada) was controlled by Renault. for years, which meant a substantial improvement of its products.
Renault’s facilities in Moscow are high-tech but not adapted for the production of other manufacturer’s cars
At the moment there is nothing decided, as stated by the Russian media. Moskvitch is well known to older Russians, since it was active between 1929 and 2002, the year in which it went bankrupt. For 10 years the company tried to survive without the umbrella of “Dad State”, but its cars were clearly obsolete and the State was in a very bad way.
For younger Russians it is an unknown brand except for the relics that are still circulating in Russia, since its car park is very old. It will be necessary to make a communication effort, something that the Russian leaders will take care of doing so that the public is interested in the Chinovitch Moskvitch.
It so happens that JAC is already a well-known brand in Russia. In the JAC Motors website for the Russian market mention is made of the JAC S3, S7, T6, iEV7S and J7. Models beginning with “S” are SUVs, the T6 is the pick upiEV7S is a crossover compact electric and the J7 a medium saloon. They are eligible to receive a restyling to become Moskvitch.
Moskvich 2141 of Municipal Police (1998)
The Russian consumer will not have many alternatives after the disbandment of Western manufacturers, who have stopped producing in the country or no longer send cars from abroad. For its part, even AvtoVAZ is having trouble getting parts. Let’s say the Chinese don’t have that problem.at least of the same severity.
A very fast way to industrialize the Renault factory is with the joker of the ckd, partially assembled cars will come from China, and assembly will be completed in Russia. It is more expensive in terms of time and money to adapt Renault’s production lines to suit JACs.
Possibly, what there is at the end of the year, if they start then, is a slow production and subject to possible supplier bottlenecks. Initially they will only have thermal models, but they intend to end up manufacturing electric models. It remains to be asked if Vladimir Putin is still in charge of the Kremlin before such a thing happens or if there are still Russian boots on Ukraine.
Source: Vedomosti (in Russian)