AvtoVAZ bought Nissan's assets for a nominal sum.
The former plant of the Japanese company went to Russia's largest automaker for just 1 euro. Since the transaction, approved in advance by the Government of the Russian Federation, could not be carried out in foreign currency, its total amount was 76 rubles at the exchange rate on the day of payment.
It was for this price that AvtoVAZ acquired the Nissan plant, as well as its scientific and technological center, that is, all the assets of the Japanese manufacturer that left Russia. The transaction was carried out with a number of features:
- in October, when Nissan left the Russian market, the company sold the plant in St. Petersburg to the FSUE NAMI Automobile Institute (a state scientific center subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, that is, in fact, to the state). Now the transaction was made through him, and 1% of the share in the authorized capital remained with FSUE "NAMI";
- an option is provided for the repurchase of assets by a Japanese company within 6 years. But only subject to obtaining consent from the Government of the Russian Federation and reimbursing the investments of the Russian Federal State Unitary Enterprise at the rate of 30 million euros per year. That is, for 6 years the amount will be 180 million euros.
It is expected that production will be resumed in the fall of 2023. It is planned to produce Chinese crossovers and sedans under the Lada brand at the plant. The volume of output in 2023 can be up to 10,000 pieces. The name of the Chinese partner has not yet been disclosed, but there is insider information that it could be FAW. The fact of negotiations with Chinese companies was confirmed by the head of AvtoVAZ.
Attracting a manufacturer from China makes it difficult to exercise the option, since the conversion of the plant to the production of Chinese cars will require significant investments from AvtoVAZ, which the Russian company will not want to lose. Therefore, the return of the plant will cost the Japanese brand, in case of restructuring the lines for the "Chinese", not cheap.
Nissan exited the Russian market in the fall of 2022 following the same scheme as Renault, agreeing to sell assets to the Russian state with an option to return. AvtoVAZ took over the provision of spare parts for the fleet of cars of the Japanese manufacturer. At that time, experts considered it logical to produce Almaz-Antey's E-Neva electric vehicles at the former Nissan plant, since the site in St. Petersburg is very modern. The Japanese firm started building a plant in the northern capital in 2006 and invested more than 350 million euros in it.
In addition to Renault and Nissan, Toyota, Mazda (according to the same scheme) and a number of other manufacturers left the Russian market.
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