SWM – Italians in Russia under Chinese “wing”
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SWM – Italians in Russia under Chinese “wing”

Once a famous Italian brand, under whose name sports motorcycles, merged with the Chinese corporation Shineray Group. Today, SWM's range includes not only bikes, but also carsThe company sells three crossover models in Russia.


The production is organized in Kaliningrad at the Avtotor enterprise, and the official owner of the plant and distributor is Vostok Veter Rus. Assembly of cars in the Russian Federation started in the spring of 2023.

About SWM brand


Initially, the abbreviation stood for Sironi Vergani Vimercate Milano. The company was founded by two off-road motorcycle racers in 1971. The plant was located, as the name suggests, in Milan. The model line included motorcycles equipped with Sachs 50, 100 and 125cc engines. The equipment successfully demonstrated itself in regular sports competitions. Gold was won at the championship in Italy, and bronze at the European motocross tournament. But by 1984, the company fell into a series of financial problems that forced it to stop production.

Under the "wing" of the Chinese


The company was able to resume production of motorcycles only in 2014. By that time, the plant (now Husqvarna) was headed by Apelio Macchi. It was under his leadership that this company (better known in Russia as a manufacturer of chainsaws, garden tools, etc.), which sponsored motorcyclists, became the winner of the 51st off-road competition, including on a global scale.

SWM – Italians in Russia under Chinese “wing”SWM motorcycles at the Milan exhibition. Photo: youtube.com

On the Chinese side, the deal was signed by Daxing Gong, head of Shineray Group, a major automobile manufacturing company with close ties to Brilliance Automotive. The Italian company's name remained the same, but it stands for Speedy Working Motors.

Having bought the plant, the Chinese are counting on a combination of financial capabilities and practicality of engineers from the Celestial Empire with Italian design. Cars have been produced in Chongqing (PRC) since 2019, the design center is located in Italy. But motorcycles have not been forgotten: SWM already presented the SM2015R and RS650R models at EICMA (International Motorcycle Show in Milan) in 650. The cars were recognizable by their Italian design and were distinguished by high build quality.

SWM in Russia


Despite the fact that the brand's cars have been assembled at Avtotor since the spring of 2023, the official presentation of the first G01,01F and 05Pro crossovers took place a year later. Already in the summer of 2024, the Chinese manufacturer announced investments in organizing the production of cars at the Russian plant.

Start of production of SWM crossovers in Kaliningrad. Photo: youtube.com

It is assumed that full localization will gradually occur and the number of manufactured equipment will be increased to 40 thousand units per year. Shineray Group's activity in Russia is associated with the provision of benefits and preferences subject to localization of production. What can you buy from SWM today?

G01


A crossover that belongs to the budget car category. First, let's look under the hood. There's a Chinese "classic" in the form of a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that develops 139 "horses.

SWM G01 – the first-born on the Russian market. Photo: youtube.com

For other markets, the manufacturer offers a forced version of the engine up to 160 hp. It is unclear why the car with a less powerful internal combustion engine is supplied to the Russian Federation; perhaps because of taxes.

There is only one engine option – turbo 139 hp. Photo: youtube.com

Transmission – seven-range robot DCT, front-wheel drive. There is nothing special in the suspension either – MacPherson plus semi-independent beam. Length, width, height – 4,61, 1,855 and 1,725 m respectively. Configurations – Optima 1, 2 and 3. Wheels with 18-inch alloy wheels.

In the cabin


The range of options is quite impressive. First of all, the panoramic roof attracts attention, visually expanding the volume of the cabin. Optics - LED, except for high beam in the basic configuration. Mirrors have an electric drive, fold.

The hatch visually expands the space. Photo: youtube.com

The stabilization system and keyless access work. The multimedia uses the Android OS, there is an Internet connection: you can download applications, the device is Russified. Audio - seven speakers. The cost of the car in the "base" was initially 2,4 million rubles, but today it has been reduced to 1 million 732,5 thousand rubles (according to the official website). The only difference between the trim levels is in the heating. In the initial version, it is only for the driver's seat (manually adjusted), in the Optima 2 - for all seats, and in the "premium" and at the steering wheel.

The main settings are on the steering wheel and in the multimedia. Photo: youtube.com

There are a lot of electronic assistants, starting from ABS, EBD, EBA, parking sensors, ending with hill start assist systems, tire pressure monitoring, anti-skid, directional stability, etc. There are two types of airbags - side and front.

G01F


It was first shown to the general public in 2018 at the Guangzhou exhibition show. It differs from the previous model in appearance by body kits, due to which the dimensions have increased slightly. In the cabin, the driver's seat is equipped with an electric drive for adjustment.
G01F can be distinguished externally by its body kit. Photo: youtube.com

The airbags are supplemented with curtains. The assistants also include a lane-keeping device, a ready-made recorder, and emergency braking when an obstacle is detected. The multimedia is more serious: nine speakers and a subwoofer hidden in the spare wheel.

G05 Pro


Let's talk about the cost of the flagship model right away: it is also lower than the original, and fell from 2 million 664 thousand to 2 million 063,5 thousand rubles. The car is positioned as a full-size crossover. The exterior design can be called more brutal, as if rough. Chrome parts are used in the exterior. Wheels - at the buyer's choice: 17 or 18 inches.

G05 Pro: ground clearance is too low for a dirt road. Photo: youtube.com

The engine and transmission are the same as those of the above models. Although, in China, the car is offered with a two-liter engine producing 143 hp, working in combination with a six-speed manual.

The interior is full of electronics. Photo: youtube.com

The fuel consumption of the G05 Pro sold in Russia, as declared by the manufacturer on the website, is 8,1 l/100 km. The tank capacity is 52 l, the car meets the environmental requirements of Euro 5. However, the small clearance of 17 cm for a crossover is surprising: for example, the Lada Vesta has a clearance of 20,3 cm.

About motorcycles


They are not made in Russia, but can be purchased from the official representative - SVR Motorsport (Husqvarna Motorcycles Russia, Camso Russia). The company offers three models, among which the RS 742R has a lower cost (from 300 thousand rubles). As the name suggests, the car has a 300 cc engine. It works in conjunction with a six-speed gearbox, and is started by an electric starter. The enduro class machine has a relatively small weight - 111 kg.

Sports RS 300R. Photo: youtube.com

The second motorcycle RS 500R is of the same type, differs in a more voluminous, half-liter engine with the GET ignition system and an increased weight of 5 kg. The cost starts from 788 thousand rubles. The SM 500R model is equipped with a 501 "cube" engine, brakes from Brembo. Weight - 133 kg, price - from 825 thousand rubles.

Brand Prospects in Russia


The Chinese manufacturer's cooperation with Avtotor is calculated until 2032. During this time, it is planned to carry out large-scale localization and offer new models to customers. Among them are a minivan, an electric car, and also a still unknown car, developed taking into account the requirements of the Russian market. The brand has plenty of competitors: in China, SWM products are not in great demand, production is declining - from 49 thousand cars in 2020 to 28 thousand in 2022.

Comparison of G01 and G01F

However, the company's business in the Russian Federation may go better. SWM has already organized a network of dealers in 31 cities. In addition to the capital, these are Vladimir, Krasnodar, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk and others. Not much time has passed since the official start of sales (March 2024) in Russia, so it is too early to rush to draw conclusions and sum up.
What do you think about SWM products?
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