Russian Government Wants a Domestic Luxury Brand

The Russian Trade Minister Denis Manturov is tired of seeing the country’s rich drive around in foreign luxury cars, mostly from Germany. He would like its domestic brands to create their own luxury brand that would take on BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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, AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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and MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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.

Manturov has asked ZiLZILRussian Federation, 1916 > present4 models
, MarussiaMaRussiaRussian Federation, 2007 > present4 models
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and GAZGAZRussian Federation, 1928 > present5 models
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to consider building a luxury car, and if they did so, there would be government financial support.

“I hope that by the end of the first half we will have a vision of which scenario we want to take," said Manturov to newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazetahe.

The automakers do not seem excited at the prospect of taking on the German giants. ZiL plans to focus on it building heavy trucks and creating armored vehicles for Russian government ministers including President Vladimir Putin.

GAZ has only recently climbed out of a near collapse by using its factories to create cars under contract for foreign automakers in Russia.

Only Marussia says that it is working on a proposal for Manturov.

Like the rest of the Russian market, luxury car sales on are on the rise. Audi, BMW and Mercedes had growth in Russia of 44%, 29% and 33% respectively in 2012.

Source: Automotive News Europe