"Pirate" BMWs Being Assembled from Old Stock in Kaliningrad
In Kaliningrad, the local automobile plant has resumed the assembly of BMW cars. This is happening despite the fact that the German concern officially ceased operations in Russia and left the market more than two years ago. New cars are being assembled from components that remained in the enterprise's warehouses from previous years.
Journalists are calling these cars "pirate" because their production was not officially approved by BMW's head office in Germany. The plant is using parts that were imported into the country before the start of large-scale restrictions. In this way, the enterprise has found a way to utilize its remaining assets and continue operating under current conditions.
The assembled cars have already begun to go on sale. Externally and technically, they are practically indistinguishable from the models previously sold in Russia. However, experts warn of potential difficulties: these cars may not be covered by the manufacturer's official international warranty. Service and maintenance issues will likely be handled by the sellers themselves or the manufacturing plant.
The situation on the Russian automotive market remains unusual. Following the departure of many Western brands, Chinese companies have begun to actively take their place. Assembling cars from old stock is a temporary solution that helps plants maintain activity and preserve jobs until new logistics chains are established.
Specialists note that such projects are limited in time. The quantity of original spare parts in warehouses is not infinite, and sooner or later they will run out. It is currently unclear whether the plant will be able to find alternative ways to supply parts or if it will completely switch to cooperation with other brands in the future.