Russia to Begin Manufacturing Putin's Limousine at Former Toyota Facility

Russia is set to start production of President Putin's official limousine at a previously owned Toyota facility. This move marks a significant shift in manufacturing strategy, utilizing an established plant for the domestic production of high-profile, state vehicles, reflecting both economic and strategic interests.

‍The Aurus Senat serves as the official presidential vehicle of Russia.‍

MOSCOW: 

Denis Manturov, the acting deputy prime minister, was quoted as stating that Russia plans to begin manufacturing Aurus luxury vehicles, utilized by President Vladimir Putin, at a former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg this year.

The Aurus Senat, designed with a retro style reminiscent of a Soviet-era ZIL limousine, serves as the official Russian presidential car. President Putin used an Aurus limousine for his arrival at the Kremlin inauguration ceremony on Tuesday. Additionally, in February, Putin gifted one of these vehicles to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

According to Russia's state TASS news agency, Manturov stated that production at the St. Petersburg plant is expected to commence by the end of 2024. He also noted that the former Toyota factory had been transferred to Aurus quite some time ago.

In March last year, Toyota handed over the factory to the state-owned company NAMI, which holds a majority stake in the Aurus brand. Aurus Motors started manufacturing its vehicles in Russia's Tatarstan region, approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Moscow, in 2021.

Russia is exploring options to utilize car factories that became idle after several global automakers exited the Russian market in response to President Putin deploying tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. According to the Russian analytical agency Autostat, forty Aurus-branded cars have been sold in Russia so far this year.

Source: Reuters