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| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1996; 29 years ago (1996) |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Cars |
| Revenue | $689 million[1] (2017) |
208,000,000,000 Russian ruble  | |
Number of employees | 2,100[2] (2015) |
| Website | avtotor |
Avtotor (Russian:Автотор) is anautomobile manufacturing company located inKaliningrad Oblast,Russia. Avtotor was established in 1996. By 2008, it was one of the largest producers and assemblers of cars in the world.[3] Industry publicationAutomotive Manufacturing Solutions estimates the company's revenue for 2011 at 4 billion euros and total employees at 3,500,[4] although credit rating agency Expert estimated total revenue in 2017 at $689 million.[1] In 2022, the company's revenue amounted to 9.5 billion rubles.[5] In May 2022, due to Western sanctions imposed in response to the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, the plant stopped production and went into downtime.[6]
Avtotor was founded in 1996 by a group of investors, led by current majority owner and chairman of the board of directors,Vladimir Scherbakov, former Deputy Prime Minister of theUSSR and Chairman ofthe State Committee for Labour and Social Problems.[7]
With an investment of $130,000,000, an assembly plant was installed in an unoccupied shipyard in Kaliningrad, with an original plan to produceNissan automobiles. The name of the company is aportmanteau of "auto" and theGerman word "tor", meaning "gate". In 1997, the new plant also began assemblingKia automobiles.[8]
In the aftermath of the1998 Russian financial crisis and the ensuing drop in automobile sales, the company found itself in a difficult financial position. To mitigate the consequences of the crisis, the company changed its business model. The company secured a contract with BMW to become a licensed importer for the German automaker.[9] Later, the company began a partnership withGeneral Motors, starting full-scale assembly on theChevrolet Lacetti.
In September 2022, the company began the production of thecommercial vehicle Dongfeng truck, with a capacity up to 3.5 tonnes, and in 2023, of the trucks Dongfeng HD-170 and HD-120.[10] In March 2023, the company started the assembly of the Dongfeng van, and in July 2023, of Dongfeng Passenger car.[11] In October 2024, the Dongfeng Bus was added to the line-up.[12]
JMC was the initial licensor for Avtotor's manufacturing, and the plant has produced more than 240,000 vehicles for JMC.[13]
Among the models produced at Kaliningrad are JMC Trucks[13]
In February 2024, Avtotor started production on theAmberavto A5.[14]
In June 2005, Avtovar collaborated with NAVECO, part of theNanjing Automobile Corporation, to produce Avtotor-Trucks starting with theYuejin line up, a broad range of low-bed delivery trucks with a payload of 0.8 tonnes to 24 tonnes.[citation needed]
Production of BMW vehicles began in August 1999 with theBMW 5 Series (E39) and7 Series.[15] In the first year, Avtotor produced 555 cars.[citation needed] In March 2001, the factory began producing theBMW 3 Series (E46),[15] and later, the new5 Series (E60).[16]
In July 2009, Avtotor increased the capacity of the plant and began production of the crossoversBMW X5 andX6.[16] At the end of May 2010, the company announced the start of assembly on the newBMW 5 Series (F10) for the Russian market[17] from kits received from Germany.
The BMW line-up produced in Kaliningrad has expanded over time with the following models:E65/66 (7 Series),F01/F02 (7 Series),E90 (3 Series),E70 (X5),E71 (X6),E83 (X3) andE84 (X1).[15][18]
In May 2015, BMW released a statement postponing the decision to invest in another plant in Russia due to economic uncertainty in the country.[19] There have been rumors in the media about the quality of Russian made BMWs.[20] These vehicles also did not have factory and manufacturer warranties, unlike their German-made counterparts.[9]
Chery car assembly in the Kaliningrad factory began in 2006. Chery car sales began in Russia in May 2006.[21]
In the first six months of 2007, 18,558 vehicles were sold (of whichAmulet - 10,119,Tiggo - 4,986,Fora - 2,596,QQ - 825, Oriental Son - 32), allowing Chery to take 12th place in the overall ranking in terms of sales in Russia. In 2007, in Russia, it sold 37,120 Chery cars. The factory produced 40,000 Chery cars that same year fromsemi-knocked-down kits.[22]
In March 2008, Avtotor stopped assembling cars for Chery.[22] The main cause being the fear that the government would deprive the factory of its privileges enjoyed under theSpecial Economic Zone, such as duty-free import of components.[citation needed]
In August 2003, Avtotor andGeneral Motors signed a set of agreements on the organization of production of GM vehicles at the Kaliningrad plant.[23]
In August 2004, the Kaliningrad plant started production of theChevrolet TrailBlazer andChevrolet Tahoe,[24] and in October 2004, of theHummer H2.[25][26]
In July 2005, theCadillac CTS,SRX andSTS joined them.[27]
On 21 November 2008, production of theChevrolet Lacetti began in full cycle, including welding and painting. This investment in the organization of the production on the part of GM in Avtotor amounted to 80 million euros.[28]
The other models produced at the Kaliningrad plant included theCadillac Escalade, theChevrolet Aveo,Epica,Malibu,Orlando,Captiva, and theOpel Astra,[29]Zafira,[29]Meriva,Insignia,Mokka, andAntara.[23]
Since the existence of the project, Avtotor has produced over 362,000 cars for GM's brands.[23] General Motors discontinued its partnership with Avtotor in 2015, citing poor economic outlook in the country.[30]
In September 2012, the company began the production of the commercial vehicle Hyundai HD-78, with a capacity up to 3.5 tonnes, and in 2013, of the trucks Hyundai HD-170 and HD-120.[9] In March 2013, the company started the assembly of the Hyundai i40 sedan and wagon, and in July 2013, of the brand's flagship, the Hyundai Equus.[10] In October 2015, the Hyundai Elantra was added to the line-up.[11]
Kia was the initial licensor for Avtotor's manufacturing, and the plant has produced more than 240,000 vehicles for Kia.[12]
Among the models produced at the Avtotor plant are the Clarus, Rocsta, Avella, Besta, Pregio, Carnival I, Carnival II, Carnival IV, Rio I, Rio II, Opirus I, Opirus II, Magentis I, Magentis II, Carens I, Carens II, Sportage I, Sportage II, Sportage III, Ceed, Soul, and Mohave.[12]
In February 2016, Avtotor started production on the Kia Optima.
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