Automakers Suspending Shipments to Russia

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GM suspended deliveries of vehicles to Russia, joining several other automakers in the move.

Several automakers announced they would suspend business dealings in Russia in the wake of the country’s attack on Ukraine.

General Motors, Volvo Cars, Volkswagen and Daimler Truck all ended vehicle shipments to the country as other manufacturing and industrial giants also quickly shut down operations or cut ties to Russian businesses.

GM said Monday it is suspending its vehicle exports to Russia indefinitely. Its Russian business isn’t massive, about 3,000 vehicles annually, according to Reuters. The company used to have production and sales operations in the country. 

However, it started pulling out of Russia in 2015 and sold off its remaining stake to Avtovaz in 2019 — the same year Ford announced plans to leave the market. “Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at this time,” GM said in a statement. “The loss of life is a tragedy and our overriding concern is for the safety of people in the region.”

GM not alone

Volkswagen also announced it’s suspended deliveries until the “effects of the sanctions” have been “clarified.”

Sweden’s Volvo Cars is implementing a similar halt to vehicle deliveries, saying in a statement, “Volvo Cars will not deliver any cars to the Russian market until further notice.” The company sells about 9,000 vehicles annually in Russia with the vehicles coming from Sweden, China and the U.S.

In a statement, the company told Reuters it made the decision because of “potential risks associated with trading material with Russia, including the sanctions imposed by the EU and US.”

Volkswagen also suspended deliveries temporarily, saying they won’t begin shipping vehicles again until “the effects of the sanctions by the European Union and the United States have been clarified.”

Ford has joint venture with PJSC Sollers to produce commercial vehicles. The company told Reuters previously it dealing with the impact of the sanctions on the operations, but the main focus was the safety of its employees.


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