- Volga’s new model may be based on a Changan SUV.
- A teaser suggests a sleek but fairly traditional design.
- Production could begin in China for the Russian market.
The Russian car industry looks very different from the one that existed before the invasion of Ukraine four years ago. As Western automakers made a swift exit after the war erupted, Chinese brands moved in just as quickly, expanding their presence and absorbing a sizable chunk of the market. A few domestic names are also resurfacing, including one of its most Volga.
Read: Tesla Never Made A Cybervan, So A Russian Startup Did It First
The Volga name rose to prominence in the 1950s as a series of executive cars built and sold in Russia by local firm GAZ until 2012, when production ended. Back in its heyday, the Volga wasn’t something you simply drove. It was what you were driven in if you held the right title in the Soviet hierarchy. That alone turned it into a cultural fixture.
Now, after more than a decade on ice, the name is finally set to return, having initially been slated for a revival in 2024.
Volga, now under the umbrella of China’s Changan, presented three different vehicles in May 2024, known as the K30, X5 Plus, and K40. The trio included two crossovers and a sedan, each based on existing Changan vehicles sold in China. The plan was to build them in China and ship them to Russia for final assembly, with market launch targeted for late 2024.
For whatever reason, that rollout never materialized. Now, however, the Chinese-owned Volga appears ready to try again, launching a new Russian-language website and releasing a pair of teasers previewing its first model.
The vehicle shown in the teaser resembles one of the crossovers presented in 2024, though with subtle visual changes. A side-profile sketch suggests a conventional SUV silhouette, complete with a large grille, squared wheel arches, and a rear design with taillights that faintly echo the Audi Q8. Reports indicate it will be joined by two additional models.
A separate teaser for the cabin was also released, showing a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a digital instrument cluster, and a large central infotainment screen. In general, it looks quite conventional, which in this context may be exactly the point.
Volga models previewed in 2024
