Toyota plant in Shushary to resume work: staff recruitment already underway

The former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg has received a chance to return to work after a three-year break. The enterprise in Shushary, previously owned by the Japanese automaker, is currently undergoing the process of de-mothballing.


The owner of the plant, Aurus, a part of the FSUE NAMI, has begun recruiting personnel. This may indicate the imminent start of production.

Initially, it was planned that the plant would produce cars in close cooperation with the Chinese company Hongqi. However, it was not possible to reach an agreement with the Asian partners.


Vacancies posted on major recruitment platforms confirm that Aurus is looking for exterior and interior car engineers, a leading developer of electrical and electronics, and research and development managers.

All these specialists are required to work on the territory of the plant in Shushary, which further confirms plans to restore production.

Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov stated that the plant had already been officially transferred to Aurus, and that production of the car should be established by the end of 2024.

However, the project has been delayed, and the exact start date for car production has not yet been announced.

The plant's capacity allows it to produce up to 100000 cars per year, but this volume is excessive for Aurus. The brand's main production is currently concentrated in Tatarstan, where the Senat, Komendant and Arsenal models are already being manufactured.

In the future, in 2029, the republic plans to launch a hydrogen version of the Senat sedan, which calls into question the need to use the St. Petersburg plant to its full potential.

In 2024, sales of the premium brand increased only from 115 to 121 units, while in St. Petersburg there was a 22% decline.


This is associated with competition from luxury cars Rolls-Royce and Bentley, supplied to Russia through parallel imports.

Despite this, the process of restoring the plant in Shushary is underway. The question of which Aurus models will be produced at this site remains open.

Some analysts suggest that the brand may try to expand its lineup beyond the premium segment by offering more affordable models.