The structure subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation does not plan to establish car production here. Most likely, the site will be given to the management of a local company.
In the summer of 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade offered foreign automakers who had not decided to do business in the Russian Federation to transfer their local assets to NAMI for a symbolic amount with the right to buy back within several years (this step, in particular, was previously decided by Renault and Nissan ). According to Kommersant, citing its sources, Toyota did not agree to such a deal at the time.
Toyota Motor in St. Petersburg (archive photo)
In the pre-crisis years, Toyota products were in high demand on the Russian market. So, in 2021, dealers sold 97,941 cars in Russia, which allowed Toyota to enter the top five brands (only Lada, Kia, Hyundai and Renault had to give way). The bestsellers for many years were the RAV 4 crossover (38,441 units) and the Camry business sedan (31,983 units). Their production was launched at an enterprise in St. Petersburg (in Shushary).
The plant was sent into idle time in the spring, and in the fall of 2022, Toyota announced its closure. At that time, the decision did not involve the brand leaving the Russian market, but the production of cars ceased, and imports were put on hold. Toward the end of last year, an inspection initiated by the regional prosecutor's office started at the St. Petersburg site of Toyota Motor LLC, representatives of FSUE NAMI and Almaz-Antey EKR took part in it.
According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, quoted by ria.ru, “the transfer of Russian assets of Toyota to NAMI is being worked out.” At the same time, according to Kommersant's sources, the Moscow Institute will not independently produce cars here. It is expected that the production site will subsequently be transferred to the management of some local player in the auto business.
On the photo: prototype of the E-Neva crossover < p>According to the publication, Almaz-Antey may turn out to be a likely contender for the Russian Toyota plant: this concern, in particular, is developing the “green” E-Neva crossover, which will be based on its own modular platform. The prototype of the future novelty was presented in July last year. True, this “electric train” is still far from mass production: according to the latest data, it will start only at the end of 2026. noted that now the discussion of its future fate continues. The department added that “the decision is practically formed and will be announced after the conclusion of a formal agreement.” At the same time, the department, together with the future owner, intends to work out various partnership options in order to restart the plant as soon as possible. »
At the moment, among the previously announced Russian projects, there is one more for which the production site has not yet been chosen: we are talking about the Atom electric car, it is included in the portfolio of the Kama company. At the same time, the authorities of Tatarstan previously said that the start of production is scheduled for mid-2024.