Putin's Top Ally Slams Russian Automakers for Using Chinese Parts

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has bemoaned the use of car parts made in China in domestic cars.

The official criticized Russian automakers on Tuesday for fitting the country's revived Volga cars with steering wheels made in China.

Western sanctions imposed over President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine have strained Russia's car market, with foreign makers pulling out and suspending operations in the country. Russia has also been plagued with spare parts shortages, with the issue forcing Russian carmaker Avtomaz to suspend operations in May 2023. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry by email for comment.

While attending the Digitalization of Industrial Russia conference—the nation's main business event focused on the digital economy—in Nizhny Novgorod, Mishustin noted that the new models of the Volga car look "modern," but said he had an issue with the steering wheel.

"Where is your steering wheel made? [Is it] Chinese? I wish the steering wheel was Russian. It's not as difficult as localizing the box and all the other elements," Mishustin said.

A Russian union complained last year that spare parts supplied by Chinese automakers and suppliers were of poor quality. The Russian Union of Automotive Services said Chinese vehicles frequently break down and regularly require repair and maintenance.

"These are similar to parts for European cars but of very low quality. They cost much less than original spare parts, but they can and do lead to serious damage," an employee of a car service station told local publication URA.RU on condition of anonymity in October 2023.

"The breakdowns can be very serious. Up to a major overhaul of the engine, and this is already a lot of money," the employee added.

Mishustin's concerns come months after Putin ordered that Russian lawmakers trade their foreign cars for domestic brands as part of a push by Russia to mobilize its domestic automotive industry.

Putin demanded last August that "all officials of the country should drive domestic cars." He also instructed the government last June to "consider the issue of developing and applying requirements" that would require taxi drivers to only use Russian vehicles.

"We discussed with the heads of the State Duma factions the issue of the use of domestically assembled cars by deputies. Everyone supports this decision. We agreed that the deputies will use Moskvitch, Lada, Aurus cars," State Duma (Russia's lower house of parliament) Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin was quoted by state-run news angry Interfax as saying in August 2023.

More than 60 billion rubles (about $665 million) will be poured into the production of domestic Volga cars, state-run news agency Tass reported on Tuesday.

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