AFK Sistema may buy Volkswagen plant in Kaluga

AFK Sistema is interested in plant purchase of the German automaker Volkswagen in Kaluga. Allur, a company from Kazakhstan, is also involved in the deal, which, among other things, produces cars and has Chinese shareholders associated with the release of Volkswagen in China. According to Kommersant newspaper, citing its source, they plan to restart the company, keeping Volkswagen models or cars close to them.

Analysts note that this can be realized by working with Volkswagen suppliers from Turkey or the concern's partners from China. As AUTOSTAT previously reported, in July 2022, Volkswagen Group Rus company announced the closure of its office in Nizhny Novgorod and leaving the production site at GAZ. In turn, GAZ Group said that the liquidation of production, where contract assembly for Volkswagen Group Rus was carried out, is not planned, and GAZ aims to ensure an alternative loading of these capacities. Recall that Volkswagen Group Rus plants in Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod stopped car production at the beginning of March 2022 due to Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and the ensuing problems with the supply of components.

The plant in Kaluga produced Volkswagen Tiguan crossover, Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Rapid liftbacks. At the facilities of GAZ Group, contract assembly of Volkswagen Taos, Skoda Kodiaq and Karoq crossovers, as well as Skoda Octavia liftback was carried out.