"Sparky" and a little edgy: what auto innovations will come out in 2025
Despite the predicted decline in car sales in Russia in 2025, new models will continue to enter the market. Some of them, such as the new Lada, are potential bestsellers. What else is prepared by domestic and foreign brands - in the material "Izvestia".
"Iskra" and sports
The main novelty of the year - Lada Iskra. AvtoVAZ rarely spoils really new models, but this is just such a case. Test bodies are already being assembled in Togliatti, and the car will go into production in the first half of 2025.
The new sedan is 65 mm longer than the more budget-friendly Granta, but 107 mm shorter than the more expensive Vesta. "Iskra" will also be produced in station wagon and station wagon Cross versions. The base engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, rated at 90 hp will receive only five-speed mechanics, the motor with a volume of 1.6 liters, rated at 106 hp will work with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Next year, AvtoVAZ also plans to show a crossover on the Vesta platform and introduce new versions of existing models. The production of Lada Niva Legend in Sport version with 1.6 engine has already started. In addition, the Niva family will acquire a new 1.8 motor (90 hp) In the II quarter of 2025 is expected to launch Lada Vesta Sport.
For off-road
The Ulyanovsk automobile plant, which has not demonstrated something radically new for a long time, promised to launch the UAZ Pro with a diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission in March 2025. The debut of the updated SUV "Patriot" is scheduled for late fall, which will also receive a new "mechanics" and will be available with both diesel and gasoline engines.
The family of Nizhny Novgorod commercial vehicles "Gazelle" NN will be replenished with all-wheel drive version. The transmission of the vehicle is identical to the all-wheel drive Sable, but for the first time Gazelle is certified not by the "bus" category M2, but by the "passenger car" category - M1. Thanks to this, buyers will be relieved of the obligation to pass the inspection procedure twice a year and to equip the seven-seat minivan with a tachograph, which is mandatory for minibuses.
It is expected that serial production of the all-wheel drive version of Gazelle will start in the first quarter of next year. Sollers will have its own SUV, and the company is also going to expand the line of commercial vehicles.
What else Russian brands will show
"Moskvich" postponed the start of sales of a new seven-seat crossover with the index 8 to February 2025. Previously, the production and sales of "Moskvich 8" were planned to be launched by the end of 2024. The production of the Russian electric car Atom with unusual swinging doors is scheduled to start in 2025.
Evolute will continue localization of its electric car range. Now the automaker is preparing a welding and painting shop, which will increase the share of localized components. Work is also continuing on the localization of knowledge-intensive components such as electric motors and traction batteries, Evolute's press office said.
New Chinese
A new Chinese brand, Soueast, a sister brand to Jetour, will launch in 2025. The model range will consist of two crossovers S07 and S09, prices and equipment have already been announced.
According to Avtostat analysts, the share of new brands, sometimes specially created for Russia, will grow next year. In particular, Geely will expand the lineup of the recently created Knewstar brand.
Market leaders will engage in point updates. Chery introduced its flagship crossover Tiggo9 at the end of 2024 and will focus on updating the model range. But there will be interesting new products from its sub-brands, in particular, Omoda will have a mid-size crossover C7, and Jaecoo, on the contrary, a more compact model J5.
Concern Great Wall is preparing five premieres, three of which are new. It is already known that the "off-road" lineup Haval Pro will be supplemented by a new model, which will occupy a niche between the crossover H3 and SUV H5. We are talking about the H7 crossover. The premium Tank brand will get a new frame SUV with an index 400, which is designed in the same angular manner as the Tank 700, but will be more affordable.
Jetour also plans to develop the "off-road" theme, with the T2 model complemented by the more compact T1 in the same style.
No plans to leave
Companies with a more modest share of sales also promise novelties. Thus, FAW plans to launch new models both under the mass brand Bestune, and under the premium brand Hongqi - its lineup will be supplemented, including a luxury sedan L1.
BAIC brand will expand its model range with the off-road lineup BJ. The first to enter the market will be a frame SUV BAIC BJ60 with a diesel engine, and in the second half of the year two more new products are expected. BAIC will keep the line of crossovers X-series in Russia, and the sluggishly selling X75 will get all-wheel drive and hybrid powertrain.
Little-known Italian-Chinese brand SWM completes certification of a new crossover SWM G03F. Sales are expected to start in May-June 2025. In the summer, it plans to start sales of the mid-size crossover G01F with an updated interior, versions with a more powerful and dynamic engine will enter the market.
Kaiyi and Livan promise to update their models, about the presence of which on the market experts and market players expressed doubts.
JAC plans to introduce an SUV, a minivan and a budget crossover, as well as new versions of existing models. Moreover, he is going to establish production of four models in Russia in partnership with Sollers.
Electric premium
The segment of expensive electric cars and hybrids will be replenished with new products. Exlantix will appear in Russia in 2025 not only with electric cars, but also with hybrids, and both the ET crossover and the ES sedan will receive a hybrid powertrain. The related Exeed brand previously announced the launch of a hybrid version of its RX crossover in Russia.
Voyah has planned to start selling a gasoline-electric version of its flagship Passion sedan in the new year. According to the manufacturer, hybrids are much more popular in Russia than electric cars and account for 90.8% of the brand's sales.
Changan has decided to bring out officially electric cars of its futuristic Avatr brand, and with serious adaptation. Sinomach took under its wing hybrid SUVs Rox 01 and received OTTS for them - previously all these cars were brought to Russia through alternative channels.
Not only China
In addition to Chinese brands, new products from other countries will enter the Russian market. South Korean company KGM (formerly SsangYong) plans to start selling Korando and Torres crossovers in the first quarter - both will be offered with 1.5 liter turbo engine in combination with front or all-wheel drive.
It is quite possible that Iran Khodro (IKCO) cars will be imported to Russia en masse. In any case, by the end of 2024, the Tara sedan should have received OTTS.
In addition, the company Automobile Technologies, which produces Citroen in the Kaluga region, plans to bring a new Peugeot model to the Russian market in the coming months. The launch is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.
As for other automakers, at the time of writing, none of them officially announced the resumption of car deliveries to the Russian market.
- Assuming that in January there will be a movement towards the lifting of sanctions, some countries will pursue an independent policy and start trading with Russia, some brands will be able to enter our market with official sales, provided that we quickly let them back in. We will put forward our own conditions for those who want to organize their own production in the future. But production is a very long time. This is not the story of 2025 or even 2027," says Maxim Kadakov, editor-in-chief of Za Rulem.
Novelties in 2025 will be brought to the market carefully, without much risk, he said.
- In the first half of the year they will bring out what cannot be stopped - the work on adaptation and certification has been done, OTCS have been obtained. They will act more cautiously with brand new models, and cars that are questionable from the point of view of our market may be held back. Everything will be quite monotonous: endless crossovers," Maxim Kadakov believes.
