economy
February 18, 2026
Putin left without his favorite toy: Russia's pride, the car brand, closed its factory
Since the beginning of February, the production of luxury cars Aurus in Yelabuga has completely stopped, reports the Telegram channel 'Russian Automobile'. According to the schedule, the company will not resume work until at least April 2026.
TL;DR
- Aurus luxury car production in Yelabuga has completely stopped since early February.
- The factory is not expected to resume work until at least April 2026.
- Workers have been sent on vacation with two-thirds of their salary, with the official reason being inventory.
- Possible reasons for the halt include low demand for Aurus cars, a long-term rebranding, the preparation for an updated Senat model, build quality issues, or a shortage of Western chips.
- Interest in the Aurus brand outside of Russia is reportedly minimal.
- Production numbers for 2026 are expected to be halved, and sales have been extremely low, averaging only two to three cars per month.
- Several Senat sedans in various stages of completion have accumulated at the factory.
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