TagAZ Vortex Estina History

When TagAZ added Chery to its assembly portfolio in August 2008, it created the Vortex sub-brand specifically for the Chinese-sourced vehicles — a deliberate effort to distance the cars from their Chinese origins and position them as Russian-market products. The flagship of the Vortex line was the Estina, a rebadged Chery A5 compact sedan.

The Estina was offered with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre engines. Sales reached 5,900 units in its first full year (2009) and peaked at approximately 10,000 in 2010, making it the most commercially successful of the Vortex models. Components were reportedly upgraded for Russian road conditions relative to the Chinese-market Chery versions.