Association of Russian AutomakersTranslation site

The Association of Russian Automakers（АССОЦИАЦИЯ «Объединение автопроизводителей России»,OAR）, also referred to as Association of Russian Automakers OAO, is the leading non-profit industry association representing the interests of Russia’s automotive manufacturing sector. Headquartered in Moscow, Russian Federation, it was founded on January 28, 2003, on the initiative of the country’s top automobile manufacturers.

Founding & Membership

The association was established by four core founding enterprises:

• AVTOVAZ OAO (now AVTOVAZ AO, Russia’s largest light vehicle producer)
• KAMAZ OAO (now KAMAZ PAO, the leading heavy vehicle manufacturer in Russia)
• RusPromAvto OAO (now GAZ Group Managing Company OOO, a major producer of light commercial vehicles and buses)
• Severstal-Avto OAO (now SOLLERS PAO, a key player in passenger and commercial vehicle production)

Current members include a broad range of industry stakeholders: AVTOVAZ AO, KAMAZ PAO, GAZ Group MC OOO, SOLLERS PAO, MAZ OAO, MOSKVICH Moscow Automobile Plant AO, AVTOTOR Holding OOO, URAL Automobile Plant AO, NAMI State Research Centre, Pramo-Electro OOO, and UMG OOO.

Core Goals

OAR’s mission is centered on advancing the competitiveness and sustainability of Russia’s automotive industry, with key objectives including:

• Driving the development of the domestic automotive sector by improving product quality and global competitiveness.
• Representing and protecting the interests of vehicle manufacturers before state legislative authorities, executive bodies, and international organizations.
• Coordinating member activities to attract investment for modernizing production capacities of motor vehicles, components, and materials, while promoting the adoption of advanced scientific and technological achievements.
• Implementing unified policies to strengthen cooperation between industry enterprises, allied industries, and foreign partners (including those in CIS countries).
• Creating a harmonized statistical and information database aligned with data systems used by vehicle manufacturers in leading automotive nations.

Key Activities

To achieve its goals, OAR carries out a wide range of strategic and operational activities:

• Policy & Regulation: Developing proposals for automotive industry development to submit to legislative and executive authorities; drafting recommendations for legislative and legal acts related to motor vehicle safety (to support implementation of the Law “On Technical Regulation”) and creating a favorable investment climate in Russia.
• Standardization & Certification: Coordinating member activities in the fields of standardization and compliance certification for automotive products.
• Innovation & R&D: Organizing the execution of new research, development, and engineering projects by leveraging the joint potential of member companies, and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies across the industry.
• International Cooperation: Representing the domestic automotive industry in international organizations, associations, and alliances; concluding relevant agreements and treaties; and fostering collaboration with automobile manufacturers in CIS countries and abroad.
• Industry Events: Organizing and running seminars, symposia, exhibitions, trade shows, and fairs to facilitate knowledge exchange and business networking. Notably, OAR co-organizes the InterAuto (俄罗斯国际汽车及配件展览会), Russia’s largest and most influential automotive exhibition, held annually at the Crocus Expo IEC in Moscow.
• Media Engagement: Assisting mass media in providing objective, comprehensive coverage of progress in reforming the Russian auto industry.

Industry Context & Partnerships

Russia’s automotive industry is a significant contributor to the national economy, directly employing around 600,000 people (1% of the total workforce) and ranking 13th globally in vehicle production in 2018, with 1.8% of worldwide output. OAR works closely with key government bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, to align industry development with national strategies such as export promotion programs and local production incentives.

The association also plays a role in regional integration: it participated in the 2013 signing of trilateral cooperation memoranda with the Belarusian Confederation of Industrialists and the Chamber of National Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan, aimed at boosting automotive manufacturing integration within the Eurasian Customs Union and unlocking the region’s industrial potential.

In recent years, OAR has also focused on supporting collaboration with international partners, including Chinese automakers that have expanded their presence in the Russian market. The association provides market research, policy alignment support, and industry coordination to help foreign enterprises adapt to Russia’s regulatory environment and localize production.

Current Industry Challenges

OAR has highlighted significant headwinds facing the Russian auto industry in 2025, including projected declines in production: a 27% drop in truck output, a 42.9% decrease in bus manufacturing, and a 54.5% plunge in electric vehicles and electric buses. These challenges are attributed to shrinking government procurement budgets, growing competition from Chinese automotive manufacturers, and credit constraints affecting major players like AvtoVAZ (which has cut production plans for the Lada Vesta NG by a quarter) and KAMAZ (which is losing market share in the heavy truck segment). OAR continues to advocate for policy measures to mitigate these risks and support industry stability.