New versions of Stellantis’ Citroën models have been produced at its Kaluga – PSMA Rus – plant in Russia, Reuters has reported.
Citroën brand owner Stellantis, among other Western automakers, withdraw from Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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According to the Reuters report, citing customs data and anonymous sources, at least 42 knocked down (KD) car kits (for the Citroёn C5 Aircross) were imported by Russian firm Automotive Technologies and then assembled at the Kaluga plant. The kits reportedly came from China’s Dongfeng Motor Group, where Citroën models are made in a JV with Dongfeng.
Russia-based news agency Interfax has previously said kits to the plant have been supplied using a ‘parallel import’ mechanism.
Stellantis owns 70% of the Kaluga plant, with Mitsubishi Motors owning 30%.
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In response to Reuters’ findings, Stellantis said it has “lost control of its entities in Russia.”
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By GlobalData‘Parallel imports’, or ‘grey market’ activity can account for some auto supplies still reaching Russia.
Moscow has encouraged such activity, allowing importers to bring in overseas products without the trademark owners’ permission, though the products must have been acquired legally.
Non-automotive brands such as Sweden’s IKEA and French luxury perfume and cosmetics house Lancome were added to Russia’s parallel imports list last year.
Data from the Association of European Business (AEB) shows that Citroën models continue to be sold in Russia.
Between January and December 2023, 213 Citroën models were sold in the country, down from 1,640 in the same period for 2022.
Interfax has reported that Automotive Technologies is not only a production partner of the PSMA Rus plant, but also works as an importer and distributor of spare parts and cars for to the Russian market via ‘parallel import’ routes.
Interfax reported in December that Citroën C5 Aircross and Peugeot 4008 compact crossovers, Peugeot 5008 crossovers, and Citroën C5X mid-size crossovers and crossbacks are for sale on the Russian market via ‘about 20 dealers with whom the company [Automotive Technologies] works’.
On its announcement that it was suspending production in Russia in April 2022, Stellantis said it “condemns violence and supports all actions capable of restoring peace.”
