Russia announced prices for new "Volgas". Should we expect them in Belarus and what kind of cars are they anyway?

Screenshot: volga.auto

From talks to results: 4 years

Plans to revive the production of cars under the "Volga" brand in Russia were first seriously discussed back in the summer of 2022, after global automakers began to leave Russia in response to military aggression against Ukraine.

The "new" Volga cars were presented in May 2024. Then, in Nizhny Novgorod, three new cars were shown at once: the Volga C40 sedan and two crossovers – Volga K30 and Volga K40.

Павялічыць

Volga cars that never went into production. Photo: Maksim Stuliy / Vedomosti

In fact, these were three cars from the Chinese brand Changan, only with "Volga" radiator grilles and badges. But the collaboration with Changan never materialized, and the production of Chinese cars under the Russian brand never started.

As a result, the Russians found a new partner, which turned out to be the Geely concern. Recently, "Volga" announced the prices for its cars and announced the start of sales in June.

The Chinese-Russian cars will be assembled at the former VW concern factories in Nizhny Novgorod, where VW and Škoda were produced before the war.

What models?

At least at the start, "Volga" will have three models: two crossovers and one sedan. The Russian "Volgas" will differ from Chinese Geelys in bumper, radiator grille, and optics.

As for the crossovers, they are well-known to Belarusians. The cheapest Volga K40 is a Geely Atlas.

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Volga K40 and Geely Atlas. Screenshots: volga.auto, geely.by

Prices for Chinese cars of Russian assembly will start from 2.75 million Russian rubles, which is about 38,530 dollars at the current exchange rate.

However, in Belarus, prices for the same crossover, but of Belarusian assembly, start from 92,900 rubles, which is about 32,400 dollars at the current exchange rate.

The second, more expensive crossover Volga K50 is a Geely Monjaro. Prices for them in Russia will start from 4.2 million Russian rubles (almost 59 thousand dollars).

Павялічыць

Volga K50 (Geely Monjaro). Screenshot: volga.auto

Geely Monjaro of Belarusian assembly is sold in Belarus at prices starting from 115,900 rubles, which is about 40,400 dollars.

It should be noted that, despite being in a single customs area, a noticeable difference in prices for similar cars of local assembly in Belarus and Russia is an expected phenomenon, as each country has separate recycling fees. Even the originally Russian Lada costs less in Belarus than in Russia itself.

However, legislation makes it such that Russian citizens cannot purchase new cars in Belarus. More precisely, they can, but they will be forced to pay extra money into the Russian budget, so there is no point in doing so.

As for the Volga sedan, the Volga C50 model is a Geely Preface. Initial prices for them are 2.9 million Russian rubles (about 40,600 dollars). Comparing it with the price of similar cars in Belarus is more difficult, as an analogue of this car is not assembled in Belarus and is not officially imported into the country.

Павялічыць

Screenshot: volga.auto

And a 2025 car with 8,500 km mileage is sold in Minsk for 28 thousand dollars.

Should we expect "Volgas" on Belarusian roads?

As for crossovers, the answer is unequivocal – no, because Belarus has its own assembly of Geely Atlas and Monjaro, so Chinese-Russian SUVs, if they appear on our roads, will only be as guests from the East.

However, the appearance of the Volga C50 sedan for sale in Belarus is also unlikely, just as "Moskvich" cars did not appear in Belarus.

Earlier, following a similar scheme, Russia "revived" the "Moskvich" brand, which is now assembled at the former Renault plant in Moscow. As with "Volga", only the name there is Russian.

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