South Korea allowed Hyundai to return to Russia

Against the backdrop of negotiations between Russia and the United States, there is an increasing likelihood that companies that have left the Russian market will resume operations there. According to the Korean edition of Yonhap, Hyundai Motor may consider the option of buying back the plant in St. Petersburg and will make a decision on this by the end of 2025.

In favor of such a development is evidenced by the recent re-registration of Hyundai's trademark of the brand in the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of Russia (Rospatent), the note says. Representatives of the Korean concern, when asked to comment on Hyundai's possible return to Russia, said only that "nothing has been confirmed yet."

The publication emphasizes that since Chinese brands are quickly replacing the positions left by Korean companies, it will not be easy for them to regain their former positions when returning to the Russian market.

The former Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg, acquired by the Russian company Art Finance, was renamed "Automobile Plant AGR" at the beginning of 2024. Since February of that year, the plant has been producing Solaris brand cars, which are re-branded Hyundai and Kia. The lineup includes the HC crossover (Hyundai Creta), KRS sedan (Kia Rio), KRX cross-hatchback (Kia Rio X) and HS sedan (Hyundai Solaris).

On January 17, it was reported that since February 2024, when Hyundai's ex-plant in St. Petersburg began producing cars under the new Solaris brand, the company had produced almost 22,000 cars by the end of the year.