Toyota did not leave itself the opportunity to buy back the Russian plant

The Japanese automaker is selling its St. change in the face of a crisis. Last summer, the Ministry of Industry and Trade made a proposal to foreign manufacturers who had not decided to do business in the country: we are talking about the transfer of their local assets to FSUE NAMI (Central Research Automobile and Automotive Institute) for a small amount with the right buyback within a few years.

Under these conditions, such companies as Renault, Nissan, and Mazda transferred their factories in the Russian Federation to NAMI. As previously reported, Toyota did not agree to such a deal. The enterprise of the Japanese company, located in St. Petersburg (in Shushary), was sent to a simple spring, and in the fall of 2022 the company announced its closure; the site was later mothballed.

The deal between Toyota and FSUE «NAMI» was concluded last spring. As the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, quoted by RIA Novosti, now reports, Toyota sold local assets, including the St. Petersburg plant, to a structure subordinate to the ministry without an option to buy back. He also noted that the German manufacturer Volkswagen sells its business in Russia under similar conditions.

The details of the deal between Toyota and FSUE NAMI have not been disclosed before. It is known that the buyer has transferred ownership of the factory building, equipment and land. The parties did not disclose the amount of the transaction. Earlier it was reported that NAMI will not directly establish car production here, the site is planned to be transferred to the management of a Russian company, and there is still no official information about which one.

In March, it was assumed that Almaz-Antey, which is developing the all-electric E-Neva crossover, will be a contender for the Russian Toyota plant: it will be based on the modular development platform of the concern's engineers. Recall that the prototype of this future novelty was presented in July last year. It is worth noting that the start of serial production of SUVs will have to wait until the end of 2026.

Recall, another St. Petersburg plant, earlier owned by Nissan, has now been transferred to the management of AvtoVAZ. It is known that the production of Chinese cars with nameplates in the form of a boat will be launched here. The first-born will be the crossover Lada X-Cross 5, which is the result of badge engineering FAW Bestune T77. Recently, the president of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, announced the start date for the release of the “new product” — the conveyor should be launched tomorrow, June 14.

Denis Manturov also reminded that foreign automakers who left the Russian Federation with a deal which included an option to repurchase local assets, if desired, would be able to return to the country. At the same time, according to him, the conditions for such a return will be discussed on an individual basis.