"Passenger Car Production" is a Russian automobile manufacturing company that produces passenger cars under the revived Volga brand. Production is based in Nizhny Novgorod at the site of the former Volkswagen/Skoda plant. The start of serial production was officially announced for the second quarter of 2026.[5]
Production and model lineup
Cars are assembled at the plant in Nizhny Novgorod, which previously produced Skoda and Volkswagen vehicles. At the initial stage, three models are planned under the Volga brand: in the D-SUV, C-SUV, and D-sedan segments.[5]
Staff and job openings
The company has posted 26 job openings in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. In the capital, the search was for a lawyer and a marketing department specialist; in Nizhny Novgorod the range of openings is wider — from technical specialists (electric and gas welder, fitter, process engineer) to office staff (finance department specialist, new product launch manager). By the end of 2026, the company intends to create about 2,000 jobs.[5]
Public reaction
On November 1, 2026, the press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, answering a question from RIA Novosti journalists, allowed for the possibility of adding a Nizhny Novgorod-built Volga to the presidential motor pool, replying in a single word: "Maybe."
Background: passenger car production at GAZ
Historically, passenger car production in Nizhny Novgorod was concentrated at the Gorky Automobile Plant. In December 2002, GAZ suspended production of the Volga; in January 2003, the plant's president, Nikolay Pugin, announced plans to resume production on February 3 of that year. At the same time, a modernized GAZ-3110 "Volga" was announced, with an updated front suspension, transmission, and a revised interior, as well as a new development — the D-class GAZ-3115, priced at around $8,000–9,000, which was intended to be produced in batches of 50–100 units per month.[2] In 2002, the plant produced 65,648 Volgas.[2]
In June 2022, the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin, spoke of the possibility of resuming passenger car production at GAZ, including under the Volga name, mentioning that the plant was not experiencing problems with the supply of components under sanctions and that measures to support demand — preferential leasing and subsidized lending — were being prepared at the federal level.[3]
According to Nizhegorodstat, passenger car production in Nizhny Novgorod Region rose by 54.3% in January 2017 compared with January 2016[4], and over January–May 2017 the increase was 52.7%.[1]
Sources
- Kommersant (Volga Region) — Passenger car production in Nizhny Novgorod Region has grown by one and a half times — Kommersant Nizhny Novgorod
- NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — "GAZ" plans to resume passenger car production on February 3 — Nizhny Novgorod News
- V gorode N — Production of Volga cars may resume in Nizhny Novgorod
- NewsNN
- autonews.ru — Volga has begun hiring employees: details, vacancies