
The world is getting smaller. A new Chinese car model is on its way to Norway, at the same time it will be produced as a Moskvich in Russia.
Replaces Renault
When the EU introduced economic sanctions against Russia, the flow of goods between the EU and Russia stopped. Several western companies chose to withdraw also for political reasons. Renault sold its business to the city of Moscow for 1 ruble, against a buyback agreement. Moscow has nationalized car production under the Moskvitch brand, which after all means "Moscovite". In a week, production of a new car model will start at the KamAZ plant. The car model is Chinese JAC JS4 (petrol) and e-JS4 (electric). They have recently received a facelift and appear as modern crossovers in the middle class. The cars produced in Russia will be marketed as Moskvich 3 (petrol) and 3 e (electric).
Click on "Subtitles" in the YouTube feature. Russian speech, English subtitles.
The first production batch is 600 cars, of which a third will be electric cars. Planned annual production volume is 50. There is some doubt as to whether production will really start in full next week, or whether the first cars will be shipped in from China. However, there is no doubt that the production is real. Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are already established, good export markets for Chinese JAC, as well as countries in South America. Moskvich's market is the closed Russian domestic market together with loyal states in the former Soviet Union. It is perhaps not inconceivable that Moskvich could one day become an export product to Western Europe as well.
We are crossing our fingers that there will be a political change in the Kremlin soon and that Ukraine will continue to be a free country.
Coming to Norway
The electric car model JAC e-JS4 will be imported and sold in Norway through the car chain RSA. So far this year, 4 cars have been registered in Norway under the model name JAC e-S4. Elsewhere in the world, the model is also sold under names such as e-JS4 and iEVS4. Here at home, great expectations are attached to the price. With a length of 4,41 meters and 520 liters of luggage space, this could be a full-fledged and affordable family car with a decent range stated at 410 km NEDC. The same model thus gets the Moskvich logo in the front.
Finding new producers
The fact that the world is getting smaller also makes it more vulnerable. Russia's military invasion of Ukraine affects us all emotionally and financially. Not least the car industry is affected. For fear of future access to spare parts, Russian car buyers are forced to switch to cars manufactured along what can be called the "axis of evil", primarily Russia, Iran and China. Russia still produces the Lada models Granta, Vest, XRAY, largus (Dacia), Niva Travel og Niva legend. In addition, UAZ in Ulyanovsk runs double shifts, but there a large part of the production disappears for military purposes. Iran Khodro Co produces 1 million cars annually, including its own models based on previous Peugeot models and trucks based on Mercedes-Benz. In China, there is a large production of modern emission-friendly cars, also with Western technology. Volkswagen has a collaboration with JAC, among other things, a new production plant for electric cars has just been built in Anhui, China. Volkswagen's role in the new Russian production facility is currently unclear.

Unsexy car brands
It should be said that Moscow hardly has any good market appeal. The information that JAC will be produced as Moskvich in Russia is unlikely to contribute to an increased desire to buy among Norwegians. But, by the way, who has feelings for brand names that JAC, BYD, Maxus, NIO, Xpeng or Hongqi - which, by the way, means the red flag - linked to Mao Tse Tung and communism? China is rattling its sabers against the Free Republic of Taiwan. Will a Chinese occupation of Taiwan result in international economic sanctions against China?
Maybe.
It is positive to have a diversity of car brands. New Chinese car brands assert themselves both in terms of price and technology. They are leaders in battery technology – a technology the western car industry is completely dependent on for the time being. But for old car enthusiasts, it is difficult to feel any enthusiasm for the cars and the new car brands. But Moscow, on the other hand - it can actually bring back good memories for some.

Facts about Moskvich 3 e, aka. JAC e-JS4
Length / width / height in cm: 441 / 180 / 166
Wheelbase: 262 cm
Number of seats: 5
Net weight without driver: 1690 kg
Drivetrain: Front mounted FWD
Battery type: LFP battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Cooling: Liquid cooled
Capacity: 55 kWh
Max engine output: 150 HP
Max torque: 330 Nm
Top speed: 150 km/h
Range: 410 NEDC
Source: AvtoVzglyad
My father bought a Moskvich 407 in the early 60s. I was 7 years old and proud when he came home with the two-tone car. Green over white with the letters "Mockbny" or something like that on the hood. One evening he came home in a tow truck from Falken with the Moskvich in tow. What had happened was that the steering rod had snapped when he was about to drive out of the car park at work. I wonder if it happened because of poor product quality or because my father was so strong? :-)
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