MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. Russian automobile holding Avtotor, after the departure of Hyundai and BMW from Russia, has mastered the production of 14 new car models and can produce 55,000-70,000 cars at the plant in Kaliningrad in 2023, Governor of the Kaliningrad region Anton Alikhanov said in an interview with TASS.

"Avtotor implemented a highly effective crisis management strategy <...> They have already launched 14 new models into production. This year, they will produce at least 55,000 vehicles, and possibly even 70,000," Alikhanov said, adding that the company is actively collaborating with new Chinese partners.

By 2022, Avtotor's production volume will have almost quadrupled. According to the Kaliningrad governor, the company's production dynamics have now increased significantly. The corporation is increasing the localization of production. The holding is required by the Special Investment Contract (SPIC) mechanism to invest about 30 bln rubles ($326.37 mln) in the development of its production and the expansion of localization. According to Alikhanov, more than 11 bln rubles ($119.67 mln) have been invested since 2019, and by the end of the year, investments will amount to almost 7 bln rubles ($76.17 mln). The holding also intends to take on new tasks and sign another special investment contract for 70-100 bln rubles ($761.7 mln - $1.09 bln).

Avtotor was established in Kaliningrad in 1994. The company was the first in Russia to start production of foreign brand cars. Production has been in operation since May 1997, with a cumulative production volume of over 2.5 mln cars.