Russia - Car Industry: Homegrown Luxury Car Fails to Excite

The ZiL

The plan to mass-produce a Russian luxury car has elicited little, if any, enthusiasm from the companies that are supposed to be hard at work to make it happen.

None of the three carmakers the government asked for manufacturing proposals signaled that it was excited about the idea Thursday.

ZiL spokeswoman Tatyana Lomakina said that for the time being the company is focused on developing an armored presidential limousine. ZiL could, however, rethink the approach to appeal to a broader market than just heads of state. "If the Industry and Trade Ministry asks, we will perhaps give it a try," she said.

A GAZ Group spokeswoman declined comment on the project until the government made its choice of carmaker.

A Marussia Motors spokesman said only that the sports car manufacturer is working on the proposal.

Read more: Homegrown Luxury Car Fails to Excite | Business | The Moscow Times