Russian Auto Industry

I think in the West, cars a re becoming more and more "disposable fashion items".
The sensors and electronics are a nightmare. They wear out, garages can't diagnose them etc etc.

I have a BMW and its been an absolute nightmare recently. Main dealers are nonsensically overpriced to fix. And independent garages have many cowboys and crooks.

It seems the Western manufacturers aren't that interesteed in this generation of cars and consider them a stopgap before AI driven, battery only, probably rental only not buy. Probably part of Schwab's "you will own nothing and be happy". They want cars to be owned by megacorporations and you drive them on a per mile basis. Its evil, but its what they want.

I do low mileage and began reviewing my BMW. It can be ridiculously expensive to repair,a nd is far less reliable or easy to fix than earlier generations. I'm sure the latest ones will be far far worse.
If I did reasonable mileage it would be cheaper to lease than buy OR own an older BMW. The situation is ridiculous in my view. Because BMW.. and other marques control the replacement part market as well as new cars.

Anyway, where does this leave Russia?
Well I notice the West seems to have a shortage of exciting RELIABLE cars. Without all the gimmicky nonsense that wears out far too soon.
Russia could build cars that are fun for young Muscovites etc. And easy to fix for those way out in the country fighting cold weather (or even hot weather say in Central Asia etc).
Also, most of us don't want the electric shit that hasn't been thought out but is actually a ruse by the WEF to take our mobility off us. Most countries electric grids simply can't support the power required to quickly charge large numbers of cars. And that will be the "excuse" the WEF will give us to control our movements. They are admitting it already with talk of "climate lockdowns".

Manturov compared the Russian electric car E-Neva with Tesla, by Aysel Gereykhanova for Rossiskaya Gazeta. 01.18.2023.

The Russian electric car E-Neva will be cheaper than the American Tesla. This, in response to a question from RG, was stated by Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov during a visit to the Obukhov plant of the Almaz-Antey concern in St. Petersburg.

“This category of cars [like the E-Neva] is designed for the average buyer based on solvency, while Tesla is closer to the business class and premium class,” he explained.

However, he did not name the cost of the car - it still needs to be calculated.

Manturov noted that the emergence of new electric cars in Russia is associated with the need to ensure the saturation of the domestic automotive market as soon as possible.

- It's just that the electric version is faster to implement, because there is no need to develop and manufacture an internal combustion engine and transmission, which is more economical in terms of time and cost. Therefore, an electric car is a compromise option, - Denis Manturov emphasized and added that E-Neva "has prospects."

Earlier, an experimental sample of the all-wheel drive electric crossover C-class E-Neva was shown to President Vladimir Putin. He opened the front and back doors of the car and peered into its interior.

In January , it was reported that AvtoVAZ could start producing the E-Neva car at the facilities of the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg.

Recall the characteristics of the car. Length, width and height are 4.5, 1.9 and 1.6 meters respectively. Ground clearance is 190 mm, trunk volume - 610 liters. The power reserve on a single charge should be 463 km, the acceleration time to 60 km / h is 2.7 seconds.

https://rg.ru/2023/01/18/reg-szfo/manturov-sravnil-rossijskij-elektromobil-e-neva-s-tesla.html

Further details:

What kind of platform and car E-Neva was presented to the President at Almaz-Antey East Kazakhstan region, by Vladimir Barshev for Rossiskaya Gazeta. 01.19.2023.

Yesterday, after a meeting with veterans, the head of state arrived at the Obukhov plant, which is part of the Almaz-Antey concern, where he was shown a new platform for electric vehicles, as well as the first E-Neva car assembled on it. What it really is?

It should be noted that this is a completely domestic development. The chassis for E-Neva was developed by the Obukhovsky plant, and the body was developed by Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. This is a compact crossover, comparable in size to the Volkswagen Tiguan. It is planned that the machine will be equipped with two electric motors - one for each axle. That is, the crossover will be all-wheel drive. In this case, the total power will be 320 kW or about 435 hp. It is also assumed that the car will accelerate to 60 km / h in 2.7 seconds. And the power reserve on a single charge will be more than 460 km.

At the same time, the platform also offers a hybrid version. Moreover, according to the principle that was once laid down in the Yo-mobile. That is, the car will be driven by electric motors, and the engine will only provide power. At the same time, the power reserve will increase to 810 km.

It is not yet known when mass production of these machines will begin and how much they will cost. According to various expert estimates, now such a car can cost about 4 million rubles. However, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, this should be a middle-class car. True, he did not specify whether it was medium in size or in cost.

Experts are still cautious about this project. So, for example, according to auto expert Igor Morzharetto, we had a lot of electric car projects, and where are they now? In China, startups are announced by the hundreds, but perhaps one in a hundred comes to fruition. It just seems that creating an electric car from scratch is very simple. It is easier than with an internal combustion engine, but, nevertheless, there are enough of their own difficulties. You need suspension so that it is not a cart on wheels, you need brakes that work effectively and so on.

The fact that Almaz-Antey, which manufactures air defense systems, is engaged in this project, inspires confidence. But so far only the platform has been demonstrated. This is not even a pre-production version of the car.

https://rg.ru/2023/01/19/chto-za-platformu-i-avtomobil-e-neva-predstavili-prezidentu-v-vko-almaz-antej.html

"Daughter" of "Rosatom" promised Russian electric vehicles unique batteries, by Sergey Ivanov for Autonews. 02.08.2023.

The production of batteries that are not afraid of frost and heat is promised to be established in Kaliningrad by 2030. In the world, such batteries are not yet installed on electric cars. “We already have them, we can show!” - they say in "Rener".

The Rener company, which is part of Rosatom , promises to master the mass production of batteries for electric vehicles based on solid-state power sources by the end of this decade. Autonews.ru figured out what these elements are, as well as where, in what quantity and for what cars they are going to be produced.

What are solid state batteries

The batteries of almost all modern electric vehicles consist of basic lithium-ion batteries - accumulators. Their operating voltage, due to the course of a chemical reaction, is always approximately 3.7 V. By assembling such batteries into a single unit, the manufacturer already receives a traction battery with a voltage of 400 or more volts, the required power and capacity. Azamat Bedanokov, Deputy General Director of Renera for scientific and technical activities, spoke about this at the presentation of the new production site.

Modern lithium-ion batteries use an electrolyte that is in the state of helium. This substance is sensitive to temperature and works best in conditions that are optimal for humans: at +25°C.

At low temperatures, such batteries lose part of their capacity, and a temperature drop below -30 ° C leads to the fact that the electric car simply loses its ability to move.

Overheating is even worse. If the performance of a frozen battery after it is warmed up returns in full, then overheating disables the battery forever. In this case, overheating is considered to be the temperature exceeding +50°C.

All this complicates the operation of electric vehicles in Russia. In severe frosts, they can be useless, and the danger of overheating, in particular, limits the charging speed: if you increase the power of the charging current, the battery will heat up and fail.

In solid-state batteries, the electrolyte is in a solid state, and its temperature operating range is much wider. This allows you not to be afraid of winter operation and speed up the charging time without fear of overheating.

Now there are no serial batteries for passenger electric vehicles with solid-state batteries in the world. However, their prospects have long been talked about a lot, and recently Nissan predicted that they would appear no later than 2028.

“We already have them, we can show them! True, these are laboratory samples, not yet serial. But we are working on a serial version and expect to release them in accordance with the global trend by 2030,” Bedankov said.

According to him, such batteries will be made at the company's gigafactory in Kaliningrad. Production there was originally designed to regularly improve the chemical composition of batteries and, in the future, replace the gel with a solid-state electrolyte.

Small gigafactory

The term “gigafactory” in relation to a battery and car battery factory was first used by Elon Musk in reference to a plant in Nevada. It refers to the capacity of the enterprise, calculated in the total capacity of all batteries produced in a year, which is measured in gigawatt hours (GWh).

The Nevada plant is now producing about 40 GWh of batteries per year. In 2022, Renera announced the construction of its gigafactory in the Kaliningrad region, which will reach full capacity only by 2030, but even then it will be able to produce only 4 GWh per year. This is enough for about 60,000 Moskvich 3e electric vehicles, which do not have the most capacious batteries.

The company says that it is now cooperating with all potential electric car manufacturers in Russia and that long-term contracts have already been signed with some. The company refused to talk about who exactly they are talking about, while they assured that the declared capacities of 4 GWh would definitely be loaded.

Now in Russia electric cars "Moskvich 3e" and Evolute are already being assembled. Almaz-Antey and KAMAZ concerns are developing their own electric cars in cooperation with the same Rosatom. If the Kaliningrad Avtotor announces the production of electric vehicles at its facilities, Rener promises to cooperate with it.

At the same time, the Kaliningrad plant will also produce batteries for stationary energy storage, for electric buses and even for battery construction equipment: in other words, cars will get even less.

There will be four gigafactories in Russia

Responding to a question from Autonews.ru, Alexander Kamashev, CEO of Rener, admitted that 4 GWh per year is not enough. According to the company's calculations, in 2022 alone, 600 GWh of batteries for electric vehicles were produced worldwide. By 2030, even according to the most pessimistic forecasts, this figure will grow by several times.

Therefore, Rener, according to Kamashev, will have not one, but several gigafactories. True, the decision on the construction of the next stages has not yet been made.

“According to our project, 4 GWh is the optimal capacity of one line. But there can be several such lines, both in one place and in different regions, ”explains Kamashev.

According to him, it is possible first to build a second line, and then two more such gigafactories. The total market for automotive traction batteries in 2030 was estimated by the company at 17.5 GWh per year. This is already enough for about 180-200 thousand Russian electric vehicles annually.

At the same time, Rener admits that other manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles will soon appear in the country. And then the hypothetical need for four gigafactories will be satisfied by the forces of several manufacturers, and not just one Rener.

Benefits today - localization in a few years

Kamashev said that his company is in the final stage of signing a special investment contract (SPIC). This should make Renera the most profitable partner for electric vehicle manufacturers in Russia.

According to the current legislation, automakers have the right to sign SPICs themselves, having received benefits in the form of state support programs for the sale of their cars and undertaking obligations for their localization. So, if such electric vehicles are equipped with Rener batteries, which will have their own SPIK, then formally these battery packs will immediately be considered localized, although in reality they still have many imported components.

“We are committed to localization for the future and are already receiving the status of a local manufacturer of auto components,” Kamashev explained.

What exactly needs to be localized?

Batteries for electric vehicles based on Rener technology consist of separate unified modules, each of which contains 12 batteries of the so-called package type. Of all the above, only the final assembly of batteries has been localized at the site in Moscow, at the Polymetals plant.

The second site is already being prepared in the Moscow Technopolis, in fact, in the workshops of the former AZLK plant. This room is located in close proximity to the former Renault plant, where new Moskvich vehicles, including electric ones, are now being assembled from Chinese car kits. It is here that by the end of 2023 the production of not only prefabricated batteries, but also prefabricated modules with their own control and cooling systems will start.

At the same time, the basic batteries - the same package batteries - remain imported. The leaders of Rener avoid answering the question of who makes these batteries, obviously due to sanctions risks. But before the imposition of sanctions, the companies did not hide the fact that their partner was the Korean company Enertech International Inc., in which Rener bought a 49% stake in 2020 .

It is planned to localize the production of batteries in Russia from 2025, when the plant in Kaliningrad should start working. It is expected that its first stage will reach its full capacity by 2030.

How much is it

Initially, the cost of the Kaliningrad gigafactory was estimated at 26 billion rubles. However, later in the project documents twice as much amount appeared - 51 billion rubles, of which 19 billion rubles. should spend the state-owned company itself, 5 billion rubles. will allocate the Kaliningrad region and another 27 billion rubles. will be raised as loans.

As noted in the company, the amount of 51 billion rubles does appear in the documents. This amount was explained by the fact that it is not about expenses, but about spending limits, which Renera, as a state-owned enterprise, is obliged to indicate in documents for project approval. The exact amount that the plant will cost will be announced at the enterprise only after construction is completed. They added that in the mentioned 51 billion rubles. includes the cost of two small production sites in Moscow, as well as the creation of a Moscow research center.

https://www.autonews.ru/news/63e3b8879a7947bd4d5015b3

AvtoVAZ bought the Nissan plant in St. Petersburg for 1€

https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5811637

AvtoVAZ announced that it had closed a deal to buy 99% of the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg from NAMI for €1. The option to repurchase these assets by the Japanese automaker is maintained for six years.

According to AvtoVAZ's press service , the documents were signed by its president, Maxim Sokolov, and Fyodor Nazarov, general director of NAMI. Earlier, the deal was approved by the government of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Sokolov announced plans to resume car production at the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg in the second half of 2023. These will be new models under the Lada brand in segments C and D. The production volume this year may be up to 10,000 units.

“In 2024-2027, we will localize these vehicles, where the key task will be to maximize the use of the capabilities of more than 30 regional suppliers of auto components,” said the head of AvtoVAZ.

The company relies on government incentives for suppliers, such as concessional loans from federal and regional industrial development funds.

At the end of November 2022, FSUE NAMI also acquired Russian assets of Nissan, including a plant in St. Petersburg, for a symbolic price. The Japanese concern estimated its one-time losses in connection with the withdrawal from Russia at about $686 million.

Similar option as the one for the french car manufacturer plant.

I just hope Russia will not have to give it back in 6 years

Russian lithium will boost the production of electric vehicles in the country, 02.09.2023 .

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Kolmozyorkoye lithium deposit, the largest in Russia, located in Murmansk province (northwest), will activate the production of electric cars in the country, said independent expert Leonid Khasanov.

"This will undoubtedly boost the development of the current lithium-ion battery factories and the opening of new ones, and, therefore, the intensive increase in the production of electric vehicles," Khasanov told Sputnik.

On February 8, the company Polar Lithium, a joint venture of the Rosatom and Nornikel groups, won the tender for the exploitation of the Kolmoziórkoye field with estimated reserves of 13.5 million tons of lithium.

Khasanov believes that the Kolmozyorkoye project represents the restoration of the complete technological chain in the domestic lithium sector.

The expert pointed out that Russian companies use raw materials mainly from Latin America to produce lithium hydroxide, lithium metal, lithium chloride, lithium hydride and other compounds.

This dependence, he warned, carries risks for the national lithium industry and is that a possible suspension of supplies from Latin America could lead to a drop in production and the need to look for other suppliers, which would take time.

"Now the situation must improve. Thanks to the exploitation of the Kolmoziórkoye deposit, the national lithium sector will have the raw material completely insured," he summarized.

According to a report by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Kolmoziórkoye project will produce up to 45,000 tons of lithium raw material annually, reaching the projected capacity by 2030.

Meanwhile, the government stressed on February 9 that domestic manufacturers of electric vehicles plan to increase production this year to 18,000 units.

"For this year we plan to increase the production of electric vehicles nine times, that is, to about 18,000 vehicles per year, and in 2024 - up to 36,000 per year," the statement published on the Cabinet's website states.

The authorities indicated that about 2,000 electric cars were produced in Russia in 2022.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade is already implementing a set of support measures that will help increase the production of electric vehicles and stimulate demand," said deputy head of the agency Albert Karimov.

According to the statement, 439 electric charging stations were created in 2022, and by 2024 this number should be about 3,000.

Yandex Translate from Spanish 

https://sputniknews.lat/20230209/el-litio-ruso-impulsara-la-produccion-de-vehiculos-electricos-en-el-pais-1135572392.html

Sobyanin announced the supply of 3 thousand "Moskvich 3" for the needs of carsharing and taxi in Russia, 02.14.2023.

The city authorities intend to supply 3,000 Moskvich 3 cars for taxi and car sharing in Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

In the near future, 3 thousand Moskvich 3 will receive taxis and carsharing in Russia throughout the country, an agreement has been signed between the Moskvich plant and the Yandex group of companies, Sobyanin said in his Telegram channel .

In 2023, the plant plans to produce 50,000 cars, including 10,000 with an electric motor; the plant already has its own dealer network, which includes 52 centers in 23 Russian cities.

Taxi and car sharing companies will be able to renew the fleet and maintain the level of services; for the Moscow market, these services need about 30-40 thousand new cars a year.

Recall that in early February, sales of new Moskvich electric cars began in a number of metropolitan car dealerships, and increased interest is recorded in them.

https://vz.ru/news/2023/2/14/1199179.html

I love the fact that when it was announced that the classic "Moskvich" branding would make a return, pretty much all western media published articles featuring ancient Soviet cars. "Russia is reviving production of shoddy Soviet machines, this is how helplessly backwards they are"..

In order to make such ludicrous assertions fly, it's been very helpful keeping media consumers in the dark. "Moskvich", "Lada" etc are to the average European or American synonymous with Soviet-era shoddy Fiat copies to this day.

Few know that these manufacturers have produced modern, in-house vehicles for decades since the USSR ceased to exist. Why do few know? Because it simply hasn't been reported upon, there's never been any interest whatsoever in the west to mention anything that could possibly paint Russia in a good light. Simple.

Lada currently produces the modern Vesta, Vesta cross, X-Ray SUV, modern Niva SUV, and I think a modernized Granta (2000s) cheapish model for the budget segment. The brand name is the same as in the past, but lo and behold, things change.

The new Moskvich is from what I gathered a modern electric or hybrid car that has no DNA from the USSR either.

edit: And of course you have new Russian high-end brands like Aurus etc. Also curious start-ups like Krym and their neat little roadster. And a ton of licence-produced but locally rebranded foreign vehicles, of course (I think Evolute is kinda this?)

Anyway, no Fiat 124/Lada 2101 in sight. Silly people.

A detailed video about the production of electric cars Evolute in Russia.

Serial production of new Lada Vesta started in Tolyatti, 03.03.2023.

Serial production of the new generation Lada Vesta has started at the AvtoVAZ plant in Togliatti. Recall that last year the company decided to move the production of its flagship model from Izhevsk to the Samara region.

The main changes in the design of the second generation model affected the headlights, lanterns and, accordingly, the plastic body kit. Big metamorphoses have taken place in the car's interior, especially the top version with a digital instrument cluster panel and multimedia with a vertically oriented touchscreen.

The new generation Vesta is standardly equipped with two frontal airbags and an ABS system. The car is equipped with LED optics (headlights, fog lights, taillights), heated windshield, mirrors and front seats, air conditioning, parking sensors, a multimedia system with steering wheel controls and a 7”touchscreen, 17-inch alloy wheels and much more.

At first, the model will be produced only with a 90-horsepower engine and "mechanics". A more powerful 106-horsepower power unit will be installed a little later. And next year Vesta will receive a two-pedal version.

https://rg.ru/2023/03/03/v-toliatti-startoval-serijnyj-vypusk-novoj-lada-vesta.html

Sales of Moskvich 3 cars started in 23 cities of Russia, 03.03.2023.

On March 3, sales of Moskvich cars in 23 cities of Russia began.

Among them are Volgograd, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Izhevsk, Kazan, Kemerovo, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saratov, Stavropol, Tyumen, Ufa, Chelyabinsk , Moscow and Petersburg.

You can buy both a petrol "Moskvich 3" with a manual gearbox and a variator, and an electric car "Moskvich 3e". The starting price of the model is 1,970,000 rubles. The electric version will cost 3,500,000 rubles.

According to preliminary information, sales of Moskvich 5 and Moskvich 6 cars will also start on our market this year . What models are hidden behind these names, while it is impossible to say with 100% accuracy. But most likely it will be a liftback and a crossover.

Earlier it was reported that 3,000 Moskvich 3 cars will be supplied for taxi and car sharing across the country in the near future.

https://rg.ru/2023/03/03/v-23-gorodah-rossii-startovali-prodazhi-avtomobilej-moskvich-3.html

I’m standing at a half-station: Russian cars have become better to slow down, by Evgeny Bagdadarov, Kirill Sazonov for Izvestia, 03.12.2023.

UAZ and Lada return familiar options.

AvtoVAZ and UAZ have again begun equipping some of their models with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Russian automakers are also working on the return of other options that had to be temporarily abandoned due to anti-Russian sanctions. In addition, their cars will get new engines and will be available in different versions. Details - in the material "Izvestia".

Icarus took off

UAZ began to produce SUVs "Patriot" with anti-lock brakes and engines upgraded from Euro-2 to Euro-5 class. Currently, the cars of 2023 are presented in only two trim levels - “Base Icarus” and “Base Icarus Limited package”. Instead of ABS manufactured by the German company Bosch, an alternative supplier, AGP, was chosen. Such a system is put on several UAZ models.

- "Patriot", "Pickup", "Profi" are equipped with ABS. The anti-lock braking system will return to cars of the SGR family in the near future, the press service of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant told Izvestia.

Earlier, AvtoVAZ resumed the production of Lada Vesta NG with anti-lock brakes from a “partner from a friendly country”. So far, this is the only model of the company equipped with ABS. The next stage is a 16-valve power unit. The plans — climate control and engine 1.8. As for the automatic transmission, it is promised next year.

The deficit can be overcome

The resumption of production of cars equipped with ABS and other electronic systems is an unconditional "plus" for consumers, says Sergey Burgazliev, an independent expert on the automotive industry.

“However, this was realized through partnerships with component manufacturers from friendly countries. Unfortunately, the production of components of these systems in our country is out of the question. Nevertheless, the recent extension of the possibility of producing "simplified" cars is more of a reinsurance measure. Apparently, the shortage of electronic components is gradually being overcome, he explained to Izvestia.

In May last year, the government allowed the production of "simplified" cars without ABS and ESP. The requirements for the environmental class and safety requirements have been relaxed. This allowed Russian car factories to load conveyors with “anti-sanction” models. In particular, UAZ began to produce "Patriot" without ABS and airbags. AvtoVAZ, having established the production of simplified " Grant " and " Niv ", suspended the production of more modern models Vesta and Largus. for which the lack of ABS has become a problem.

This year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to again make the anti-lock braking system mandatory for installation from November 1. Also, as part of changes in the technical regulations in the Russian Federation, it is planned to increase the environmental class of engines manufactured in Russia from Euro-0 to Euro-2. At the same time, simplified requirements for the production of cars can be extended until February 2024.

Diesel from China

In addition to the gradual abandonment of simplified configurations, Russian automakers will add new options to well-known cars. The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant plans to equip its cars with diesel engines paired with a 6-speed manual transmission from 2024 . The motor and transmission will be supplied by the Chinese company JAC. The JAC HFC4D power unit, depending on the boost, develops 130 or 139 hp. " UAZs " for a long time were not equipped with diesel engines, only gasoline engines.

In the future, it is possible to return to Russian SUVs automatic transmission, which disappeared last year due to sanctions.

“The work is being carried out in the most active way, but it’s too early to talk about the specific dates for the appearance of cars with a diesel engine and automatic transmission,” the press service of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant told Izvestia.

Body sports

AvtoVAZ released two sports prototypes in new bodies. The updated Lada Vesta Sport is presented in the station wagon body. Previously, this model existed exclusively in the form of a sedan. At the same time, the station wagon was tested for several more years and was even certified, but did not go into production. Now, obviously, the car has a chance to become serial.

Earlier, the head of AvtoVAZ product marketing, Sergey Kornienko, told Izvestia that a whole sports family of Vesta was being prepared with varying degrees of “charge”.
- It was necessary to make the Vesta Sport station wagon a long time ago, only now they have come to this. I suggested to AvtoVAZ to make such a car when they had just created a sedan, and said that an ordinary station wagon would be popular and a sporty one would also find buyers, but then it didn’t grow together, ”Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of Za Rulem, told Izvestia.

The second prototype is a new version of Lada Granta Sport in a liftback body. Until 2018, such cars were produced exclusively in the sedan body. They were distinguished by a forced motor, sports suspension and disc brakes all around.

- This car has both ABS and a stabilization system. I traveled on it, a stable good car. The new Granta Sport, most likely, will have more horses, the engine has a different control program, a different intake,” said Maxim Kadakov. According to him, the Drive Active version will also remain in the lineup and will be positioned one step lower.

https://iz.ru/1481513/evgenii-bagdasarov-kirill-sazonov/stoiu-na-polustanochke-rossiiskie-avtomobili-stali-luchshe-tormozit

It was only a matter of time before things would start to return to normal.

Another import-substituting production opened in the Kostroma region, 03.28.2023.

Another import-substituting production has been opened in the Kostroma region. This is the Itelma company, which will produce domestic anti-lock braking systems for cars.

The enterprises of the region are actively mastering the strategy of import substitution. Economic sanctions and the exit from the Russian market of several foreign companies have become an incentive for the development and expansion of local industries, the launch of new lines. In particular, itelma, an auto electronics company, is opening import-substituting production in the region. A subdivision of the Moscow enterprise manufactures domestic parts for cars in Kostroma - instrument clusters, driver door modules, user interfaces, switch blocks and other auto components. The creation of import-substituting production will open up new jobs. Now the company is expanding the list of manufactured products and launching new production facilities. In the near future, a new automated line will be built in the Kostroma branch of the enterprise. It will start producing imported ABS anti-lock braking systems for leading domestic automakers. Prior to the introduction of economic sanctions, such systems were not produced in Russia. The necessary elements for domestic cars were supplied by foreign companies.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/150651/

This is proof that countries can develop their own technologies, their own products and services without depending on large transnational corporations. In fact, Iran was already proof of that, but as the country was surrounded internationally by the US, nobody cared about it.
In any case, when you receive a foreign company (the countries must not be closed for this) you must ensure that the raw materials and the production cycle are all local (everything possible), to avoid stoppages as in the case of automobile companies . This applies to companies from "friendly" countries as well.

https://www.avtotor.ru/news/2301-avtotor-ob-yavlyaet-o-nachale-strategicheskogo-partnerstva-s-baic-i-starte-proizvodstva-avtomobilej-brenda-v-kaliningradskoj-oblasti

AVTOTOR announces the beginning of a strategic partnership with BAIC and the start of production of the brand's vehicles in the Kaliningrad region
04 April 2023

Kaliningrad automaker AVTOTOR starts cooperation with BAIC, one of the largest state-owned automobile groups in China.

Industrial production of BAIC cars has started at the AVTOTOR plant.

On one conveyor line, two models of the brand are produced simultaneously: the compact 5-seat BAIC X35 crossover and the sedan with the naturally aspirated 1.5-liter BAIC U5 plus engine.
...
On April 4, 2023, the official production launch ceremony was held at the AVTOTOR plant in Kaliningrad.
...
Acting in accordance with the priorities of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of increasing the level of localization of manufactured products, the parties are working out a phased plan of technical and technological cooperation on the localization of components.

At the moment, production is carried out in the mode of industrial assembly based on a welded and painted body with partial localization of first-level components. Based on the agreements reached, at the first stage, a localization plan is being worked out for the following components: batteries, windows, bumpers, washer tanks, wheels and tires, seats, exhaust systems and others.

Starting in 2024, it is planned to establish full-cycle production with welding and body painting, followed by localization of paint materials and stamping.

Further prospects for expanding cooperation are associated with projects for the production of electric car models, which are already represented in the BAIC product line.

In the implementation of projects for the production of electric vehicles at AVTOTOR, it is planned to use local components (including electric motors, gearboxes, inverters, control systems and other components). The company has its own production of AVTOTORS, which will start production in 2024.
...
Sales of the BAIC X35 and BAIC U5 plus are scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2023. Five more models of the brand are planned to enter the Russian market by the end of 2023.
...

https://tass.com/economy/1599803

Avtovaz Q1 sales rise by 22% to 64,200 cars
MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Sales of Avtovaz in the Q1 of 2023 increased by 22% and amounted to 64,200 cars, the company said in a statement.

"A total of 64,240 Lada cars of all models were sold in the first quarter of this year, which is 21.9% more than in the first three months of last year," the report said.

By the end of March 2023, Avtovaz sold 23,300 vehicles, which is 90% more than in March last year.

Lada Granta's sales volume remained unchanged in comparison with February 2022 at 16,200 vehicles. This is 373.5% more than in March 2022, when Avtovaz’s supply of components from overseas suppliers ceased. In addition, 2,700 Niva Legend SUVs were sold in the reporting month (+212.1% compared to March 2022). Niva Travel sales rose by 83.1% compared to March of last year, totaling 3,700 cars.

Sales of Avtovaz in 2022 amounted to 188,600 vehicles. At the same time, according to the company's own estimates, its share in the Russian car market at the end of last year reached 27.9%. In 2021, 350,700 AvtoVAZ vehicles were sold on the Russian market, while the drop in sales was 46% in 2022.

Russian ABS for Lada cars tested in Yakutsk, 04.11.2023.

Lada cars with the Russian ABS system, which replaced the imported one, were tested in Yakutsk. The tests were carried out at an air temperature of about -20 °C.

“We need tracks with a low snow-to-ice ratio. Here, weather conditions still allow doing this, so we came here to continue winter tests,” says Sergey Mokhnatkin, who is responsible for smooth running, active safety systems and braking in Lada cars. He personally tested the new domestic ABS.

“ABS has two purposes: the first is braking performance, and the second is when braking, so that the car is steerable and stable. These are the two parameters we are checking on climbs and descents now, so that there are no problems in these modes.” Sergei Mokhnatkin.

The anti-lock braking system allows you not to lose control of the machine during sudden braking, as well as stop and move off on the descent and ascent. After these exercises are repeated hundreds of times, the car is inspected in a warm box.

Lada Granta, Lada Niva Legend and Niva Travel were the first to receive Russian ABS, which were tested in Yakutia for 10 days and will now return to production for a detailed analysis of the tests.

“Here we are testing only one of the stages of work - this is a low coefficient, that is, conditions of snow cover and ice. There are also tests at a high coefficient, that is, it is dry asphalt, mixed coatings. We have yet to do this work,” said Artur Latypov, Deputy Technical Director of NPP ITELMA (ABS manufacturer).

Based on the results of the test drive, it was determined that the Russian ABS system turned out to be no worse than imported ones.

https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/150875/