Russia's Avtotor has been assembling BMWs without a license since March 2025
The Russian Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad has been assembling BMW X5, X6 and X7 models without permission since March 2025, using outdated kits. 145 units sold at steep prices.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Avtotor has been making BMWs without a license for a year
The Russian Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad has never stopped assembling BMWs, even after cooperation was broken off in 2022. According to BMW group representative Carolin Bachmann, the company is using "old, partially obsolete kits" stockpiled since then. The unauthorized production is said to have begun in March 2025 and continues "on an irregular basis".
Three models at eye-watering prices
The SUVs being assembled are the X5, X6 and X7, priced between 11.9 and 12.9 million rubles (around $153,000-166,000). Data from Russian media indicate that 145 units of these "pirate" BMWs were sold over the past year. The figure is not massive, but it shows that the Russian supply chain manages to circumvent sanctions.
Mixed reactions
While some applaud the move as a challenge to Western patents, others point out the irony: Europe continues to import Russian gas, albeit in decline. There are also those who speculate that Mercedes may be trinc the same path, given how many vehicles of that brand are on the road. A curious detail: the assembly time for each unit, according to one source, is 60 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds.
The case raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and Russia's ability to keep key industries running with old or smuggled technology. For now, BMW has not announced any concrete legal action.
The Russian Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad has never stopped assembling BMWs, even after cooperation was broken off in 2022. According to BMW group representative Carolin Bachmann, the company is using "old, partially obsolete kits" stockpiled since then. The unauthorized production is said to have begun in March 2025 and continues "on an irregular basis".
Three models at eye-watering prices
The SUVs being assembled are the X5, X6 and X7, priced between 11.9 and 12.9 million rubles (around $153,000-166,000). Data from Russian media indicate that 145 units of these "pirate" BMWs were sold over the past year. The figure is not massive, but it shows that the Russian supply chain manages to circumvent sanctions.
Mixed reactions
While some applaud the move as a challenge to Western patents, others point out the irony: Europe continues to import Russian gas, albeit in decline. There are also those who speculate that Mercedes may be trinc the same path, given how many vehicles of that brand are on the road. A curious detail: the assembly time for each unit, according to one source, is 60 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds.
The case raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and Russia's ability to keep key industries running with old or smuggled technology. For now, BMW has not announced any concrete legal action.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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