MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. The former Mercedes-Benz plant in Esipovo near Moscow is preparing to launch car production with a new partner in the first quarter of 2027, the press service of the Avtodom group of companies told TASS, citing its CEO Andrey Olkhovsky.

"The site is being prepared for a launch with a new partner in the first quarter of 2027. All Mercedes-Benz equipment is intact and packed according to technical guidelines," he said.

The plant is currently not operating at its design capacity but it cannot be said it was completely stopped, the chief executive said. At the same time, the company is not yet disclosing details about the new partner or the models planned for production at the site.

Olkhovsky also expects that by 2027, the stabilization process for the brands and models available on the Russian automotive market will be completed for the next four to five years. The main focus of automakers will then shift toward component localization, increasing production volumes, and reducing manufacturing costs, the chief executive added.