Driven By Vladimir Putin During His Presidential Inauguration, The UAE Orders Russia's Aurus Luxury Sedan In Bulk

Aurus limousine sedan during the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as President of Russia. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/The Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ordered the luxury car Aurus, a product of Russia's pride that President Vladimir Putin 'promoted', in large quantities and possibly bulletproof, a minister said Thursday.

"Our colleagues placed a large order, I can't reveal the number of cars that are being negotiated with certain modifications. Most likely they will be big bulletproof cars, which will be the basic deal, beyond what the Emiratis have already obtained," explained the Minister Industry and Commerce Denis Manturov, quoted from TASS, November 19.

In addition to the bulk order by the UAE, Manturov also talked about another potential foreign order for the Aurus luxury sedan.

"The prime minister of Kazakhstan saw our bulletproof Aurus limousine not too long ago. I have even heard there have been discussions about the Kazakh order, although I have not received any information as to how many (cars will be ordered) and who will be ordering," he added.

Cabriolet model Aurus sedan during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, Russia. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/Минобороны оссии)

Citing Reuters, long before Russia began producing the Aurus luxury sedan on May 31. Russia unveiled plans for the Aurus car line in 2013. President Vladimir Putin 'helped' promote his model limousine, driving this sedan during his 2018 inauguration as president for a new six-year term.

The UAE-based holding company Tawazun, is one of the shareholders in the Aurus project. Aurus Chief Executive Officer Adil Shirinov previously said Tawazun would start supplying the Senate Aurus to the Middle East in 2022.

The plan is to export around 70 percent to 80 percent of Aurus cars by 2030, with Middle Eastern and North African countries, then China and Western Europe, prioritized.

To note, Aurus is the first Russian luxury car brand created from scratch by the design agency NAMI. Serial production of the Aurus car began in Russian Tatarstan at the end of May. Aurus' shareholders are NAMI (63.5%), Tawazun UAE (36%) and Sollers (0.5%).