It doesn't matter if the Amber Avtotor has it under the hood or not, it's already making a lot of noise. The first electric model from Russian car manufacturer Avtotor was greeted with general laughter. Expected by the company to be Tesla's future competitor, this car designed by the Moscow Polytechnic Institute has become the laughing stock of the web. The reason? A burlesque design, gleefully mocked by Internet users. Three doors, rounded curves, small windows and high-pitched headlights that give it the look of a Fiat Multipla, a model known for its ugliness. "The nightmarish child of a kangoo and a babybel," joked one user on X (formerly Twitter).
Still in the prototype stage, this first 100% Russian electric vehicle should soon see the light of day. Production is expected to start sometime in 2024 and car manufacturer Avtotor promises that by 2025, nearly 50,000 models will roll out of its factory in Kaliningrad every year. The battery and motor, both of Russian origin, are touted by the brand as highlights of the vehicle, which is expected to be affordable for the general public.
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Historically, the Avtotor plant was known for assembling European cars in Russia, producing models for brands such asBMW and Hyundai," recalls the trade magazine Auto Plus. Except that the war in Ukraine since February 2022 has disrupted the entire Russian automotive industry, which has since been losing momentum. "The ensuing international sanctions led to the cessation of operations at the Avtotor plant, paving the way for a new era for the Russian automotive industry," the magazine said. "Amber, the first 100% electric model developed locally, should also make it possible to counter the Chinese invasion," the specialist magazine L'Argus points out.
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The site has been transformed into centers for the development of electric vehicles and training for future engineers at the Moscow Polytechnic Institute. Although few technical details are known today, "it is obviously difficult to imagine this car with a downhill range and a level of comfort and safety in line with European standards," Auto Plus quipped.