Ministries to Presidential Staff Want to Buy Foreign Cars, President Putin: Domestic Product Is A Must

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Source: Kremlin)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin emphasized on Thursday that state and regional officials in Russia must use domestically made cars.

"Ministries, agencies, offices of the presidential staff have asked to continue purchases focused on foreign-produced cars, to continue this practice," President Putin said in a meeting with the chief executives of the manufacturing industry, reported by TASS August 4.

"However, I replied that this is completely unacceptable and all Russian officials should drive cars of domestic production," he stressed.

According to President Putin, "in some ways, these cars may be simpler than the cars we used in the past."

"Not a big deal. On the contrary, it will be better," he continued.

"Our officials are extraordinary and they must realize that we must strive to develop domestic car brands and other products produced domestically," he explained.

"This should be the main direction for raising living standards," added President Putin.

Quoting RT, President Putin said Russia does not reject imports completely, but that the country should be able to produce some of its own basic necessities.

Russia has been waging a campaign to stop foreign imports since 2014, when Western countries first imposed sweeping sanctions after the Crimean Peninsula voted to join Russia following the coup in Kyiv.

Moscow is stepping up its efforts in this sector, having been hit by additional restrictions from the West over the Ukraine conflict, with President Putin claiming in May 2022 that Russia had achieved success in key industrial areas.

New restrictions from the West have also sparked a massive exodus of foreign automakers from Russia, while domestic manufacturers have also struggled due to disruptions in supply chains.

However, according to agency Autostat, foreign-made cars still dominate the Russian market, with Toyota, Hyundai and Kia remaining the most popular.

Even so, Russian business outlet RBK reported Thursday that AvtoVaz - the country's largest automaker - recorded a twofold increase in sales compared to 2022.

Last July, a senior Russian customs official pointed out that China's car imports tripled from January to May compared to the same period last year.