Mercedes-Benz may return to Russia if sanctions are lifted

Stuttgart-based luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz retained the option to return to the Russian market through asset buybacks if Western sanctions are lifted. This was reported to Handelsblatt by a company representative. Recall that in March 2022, local production and import of Mercedes-Benz cars to our country were stopped, and in October Stuttgart company announced its withdrawal from the Russian market and the sale of its assets in our country to the Avtodom dealer holding. At the same time, Avtodom previously noted to the Prime agency that the deal to acquire Mercedes-Benz assets in Russia has not been fully closed and hard work is underway with government agencies to finalize it.

According to sources of Izvestia newspaper, the assembly of Chinese premium cars of Hongqi brand may begin at Mercedes-Benz plant in the Moscow region. Crossovers may be the first to go into production, and one of them, HS5, has already been certified in Russia at the end of 2022. The opening of Mercedes-Benz plant in the Esipovo industrial park near Moscow took place in April 2019. The company produced Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans, as well as GLE, GLC and GLS SUVs. The production capacity of the plant is more than 25 thousand cars per year. The company covers all technological stages - from body assembly and painting to final assembly.