Moskvitch 3 / 3e History

When Western sanctions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine prompted Renault to exit Russia, the Moscow city government acquired the former Renault/Avtoframos plant and relaunched it under the dormant Moskvitch name. The first vehicle, the Moskvitch 3, went on sale December 26, 2022 — a compact crossover SUV that is mechanically a rebadged JAC Sehol X4, assembled in Moscow using semi knock-down kits supplied by JAC Motors with support from Russian truck-maker Kamaz.

The petrol Moskvitch 3 uses a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed manual or CVT. The electric Moskvitch 3e replaces the combustion drivetrain with a 193 hp electric motor, 340 Nm of torque, and a battery claimed at 410 km of range; it became Russia's best-selling new electric vehicle by unit volume. The cars share the Moskvitch badge and Moscow-assembly provenance with the Soviet classics, but are Chinese-engineered products with no mechanical lineage to the original MZMA/AZLK designs.