Russian car enthusiasts might have something to look forward to in the near future. Several international car brands that left the country in 2022 due to geopolitical tensions could make a comeback by 2025. This prediction comes from Yevgeny Zhitnukhin, head of the dealer division at Fresh, a prominent automotive company.
Zhitnukhin highlighted that brands such as Toyota, Lexus, Kia, Hyundai, BMW, Porsche, Suzuki, Peugeot-Citroen (which owns Opel), Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and even Rolls-Royce are likely to return. These companies did not sell their businesses when they exited Russia, making their re-entry more feasible.
However, not all brands will find it easy to return. Volkswagen and Nissan, for example, face significant hurdles. When they left, they did not retain the option to buy back their production facilities. Without their own factories and considering the rising recycling fees, resuming profitable operations at previous levels will be difficult.
It remains unclear why Toyota is considered a likely returnee, given the company's cautious stance. Despite this, experts believe the Japanese automaker could re-enter the market.
In addition to the return of established brands, 2025 could also mark the beginning of localized production and sales of Iranian cars in Russia. However, Russian consumers have yet to show significant interest in these vehicles.
