Where they make Moskvich 3: everything about the production of the new sedan in

Revival of the legendary brand Moskvich became one of the most discussed events in the Russian automobile industry. Model Moskvich 3 - the first sedan released under this name after a long break - attracted attention not only with its design, but also with questions about the place of assembly. Unlike Soviet times, when the Likhachev plant was the only production site, today the geography of production is distributed differently.

If you are planning a purchase or are simply interested in where exactly they collect Moskvich 3 in 2026, this article will help you understand the details. We analyzed official data, owner reviews and technical documentation to give a comprehensive answer. We will pay special attention to how the assembly location affects the quality, price and warranty service of the car.

Official factories: where Moskvich 3 is assembled today

At the moment Moskvich 3 produced at two main sites owned by JSC "Moskvich" (part of the company group KamAZ). Both plants are located in Russia, but have different specializations and histories:

• 🏭 Plant "Moskvich" (Moscow, Avtozavodskaya str., 23) — a historical site where models were previously produced Moskvich-412 and 2141. Today it is organized full cycle assembly (welding, painting, final assembly) for part of the batch Moskvich 3.
• 🏗️ Derways plant (Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan) - a modern enterprise built in 2022. Technology used here SKD assemblies (from ready-made units), which speeds up the production of cars. It is this plant that provides the bulk of production.

It is important to note that both plants operate at imported components (mainly from China), but the degree of localization is gradually increasing. According to Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, by the end of 2026 it is planned to increase the share of Russian parts to 30–40%.

According to the press service Moskvich, the choice of two sites is due to logistics and production reasons: the Moscow plant is responsible for “premium” configurations, and the Chelny plant is responsible for mass production. However, in practice, the differences between cars from different factories are minimal.

Production technologies: how Moskvich 3 is assembled

Build process Moskvich 3 significantly different from Soviet times. Today, modern standards are used here, borrowed from Chinese partners (the company JAC Motors acts as a technological donor). Let's look at the key stages:

1. Body welding - performed by robots KUKA (Germany) at the Chelny plant. In Moscow, some operations are still carried out manually.
2. Coloring - used cathodic electrodeposition (technology CED), which guarantees anti-corrosion protection for 6–8 years.
3. Interior assembly — plastic panels and upholstery are supplied from China, but final assembly takes place in Russia.
4. Electronics Installation — control units (ECU) and multimedia system (MMS) are configured to Russian standards (for example, support GLONASS).

Features of production - modular approach. For example, engines 1.5L Turbo (150 hp) are delivered ready-made from China, but undergo additional tuning in Russia. This allows you to reduce assembly time to 18–20 hours per car (vs. 40+ hours for competitors).

Inspect the gaps between the body panels (the norm is up to 3 mm)

Check the operation of the electric windows (should move smoothly, without squeaks)

Make sure there is no extraneous noise when starting the engine

Check the operation of the multimedia system (response to touch, sound)

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According to reviews from the first owners, the most problematic areas remain interior plastic (creaks at low temperatures) and suspension tuning (a bit harsh for Russian roads). However, these shortcomings are common to most new models on the market.

How to determine where your Moskvich 3 was assembled: VIN and other methods

If you buy Moskvich 3 from your hands or from a dealer, it is important to know at which factory it was assembled. This affects warranty service (for example, the Moscow plant has its own service center), as well as the market value. Here's how to do it:

1. Check by VIN code:
   • 🔍 First three characters (WMI) — X7L (Russia, Moskvich).
   • 📌 The 11th character indicates the plant:
     • M — plant in Moscow;
     • N - plant in Naberezhnye Chelny.

X7L M N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
|   | |                     |
| | | └── Serial number
| | └─────────────────────── Plant (M - Moscow, N - Naberezhnye Chelny)
WMI (X7L - Moskvich, Russia)