“Finally!”. The deputies reacted to the resumption of production of “Moskvich”

The assembly of Moskvich cars began on November 23 at the former Renault plant in Moscow. Sales of the first model, the Moskvich 3 crossover, are scheduled to begin as early as December 2022. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, this model is equipped with a gasoline turbo engine (1.5 l, 150 hp) paired with a CVT automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission.

Vedomosti asked State Duma deputies if they were ready to switch from their cars to a new crossover.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Technology and Communications Sergei Boyarsky (United Russia):

“At one time I traveled on the domestic auto industry – I had a brand new 99th [»Лада»]. By the way, I bought it after a bad experience with a foreign car, and did not regret it. The car has served me faithfully for 2.5 years. It was a car with a decent set of driving qualities and characteristics, inexpensive to maintain. I’ve been driving a Lexus for the last 10 years.

I relate to the domestic auto industry without any irony. Today, global technologies have leveled everyone, and our middle segment cars, in principle, are not much inferior to other manufacturers – neither in price nor in quality. I use carsharing quite often – I can compare. For example, the “Chinese” are now comparable to the German car industry, the “French” are inferior to them.

The problem of our auto industry is that it is not represented in all segments. If there was a car on the domestic market that could compete with European brands in different segments, I would confidently consider this option. I wish Moskvich good luck and a new round in development. Although Moskvich used to lose to Lada, let them catch up.”

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Transport and Development of Transport Infrastructure Rafael Mardanshin (United Russia):

“I would first look at the characteristics, the equipment, how they drive. I have a positive attitude to the fact that the serial production of Moskvich has begun. This is the use of available space, these are jobs, this is our well-known brand. The name is a little forgotten, but it is in the memory, they used to go. Now there will be modern, better and safer cars.”

Member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Maria Butina (United Russia):

“Now I only have a company car, I haven’t driven for a long time. If there was a need for a private car, of course [купила бы автомобиль «Москвич»]. I even recently visited a magnificent exhibition dedicated to Moskvich. I didn’t know this car had such a rich history, I only knew the final product. The fact that there used to be racing cars, and so much more … The Soviet car industry has something to be proud of. I fully support the resumption of the release of “Moskvich”. My reaction to that is “finally.”

Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications Evgeny Popov (United Russia):

“We need to see what the thing is. It’s very cool that they saved jobs, production, quickly reacted to the departure of Renault, clung to the enterprise, did not actually stop it for a month. The reaction of the business community and the authorities is what it should be. The machine looks great. You have to try, why not?

Vice Speaker of the State Duma Sholban Kara-ool (United Russia):

“Do not believe me, if I needed a car, I would buy it. At the same time, I would pay attention: two identical cars with approximately the same characteristics, I will take the domestic one. Yet for the majority, a car is a means of transportation and an object of increased danger. Very important, if you are a reasonable person, are the consumer qualities of a new car. And also – the correspondence of the price to the quality.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture Elena Drapeko (A Just Russia):

“There are a number of conditions that my car must meet: reliability, stainless steel body, climate control, parking sensors. In general, I am not whimsical. I drive a car – Toyota Auris – mainly for household chores, to the store, to the country. If the new Russian car meets these requirements, why not? For many years I went to the “Zhiguli” of various models, I am calm about our cars. They are doing well.”

April 26 at the Ministry of Industry and Trade reportedthat Renault decided to transfer a stake in its Renault Russia plant (formerly Avtoframos) to the Moscow government. In the spring, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that the plant would produce cars under the Moskvich brand, and in the future, electric cars.

On May 19, Vedomosti wrote, citing sources, that “Kamaz» localizes the production of Chinese cars at a plant in Moscow. July 20 became knownthat the development of the Kama startup, owned by Kamaz CEO Sergey Kogogin and businessman Ruben Vardanyan, is being considered as a platform for Moskvich electric vehicles.

In August, the Moscow government andKamaz» signed cooperation agreement, which provides for an investment in the Moscow automobile plant “Moskvich” 5 billion rubles. Funding will be provided within two months from the date of the agreement.