The new enterprise was supposed to produce sedans of the H9 model under the Aurus brand.
The luxury division of the Chinese concern FAW Honhqi was supposed to assemble premium cars at the enterprise in Shushari.
The Russian authorities are forced to postpone the launch of production of Aurus cars at the former Toyota plant near St. Petersburg for an indefinite period due to the breakdown of negotiations with Chinese partners. This is reported by Russian media.
According to sources, the luxury division of the Chinese concern FAW Honhqi was supposed to assemble premium cars at the enterprise in Shushari. In particular, the enterprise was supposed to produce sedans of the H9 model under the Aurus brand.
However, FAW “jumped out of the negotiations”. Currently, Aurus is under sanctions, and this could scare off a potential Chinese partner.
In the spring of 2024, the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov promised to start production of Aurus in Shushari by the end of 2024.
Toyota has been producing cars in Shushari since 2007, but after the war in Ukraine began, it suspended the plant’s operations, and in the fall of 2022 announced its decision to close the plant.
As a reminder, the assets of the South Korean automaker Hyunda were purchased from the Russian Federation by the company Art-Finance, which was registered in 2023.
