How Russia is making fake Citroen C5s with the help of a Chinese businessman

The Citroen factory in Russia, which stopped production due to the war in Ukraine and was sold to another group in a symbolic manner, has mysteriously restarted its operations without the consent of Stellantis.

We knew about fake French luxury goods, fake Louis Vuitton bags, fake Hermès scarves… Now here are fakes of a new kind: fake… . Especially C5 Aircrosses, manufactured and sold in Russia. It is Franceinfo research which exposes this unprecedented industrial piracy.

During the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, all European manufacturers closed their factories in Russia due to sanctions. Renault sold its factory in the suburbs of Moscow and its stake in Avtovaz Lada for a symbolic ruble.

But Stellantis, Carlos Tavares’ group that produces Citroëns and Peugeots, has not managed to withdraw its operations in Russia. It stopped production at its factory in Kaluga, 200 kilometers from Moscow, 2,700 Russian workers found themselves without technical work, but the French manufacturer continued to pay them their wages.

The Chinese manufacturer sends parts

But we have found that production was going on and that Citroën C5s were going on without Stellantis being informed. Cars almost identical to those produced in France.

A mysterious group took over the factory, along with former workers, and resumed production. For this, of course you need parts that Stellantis does not supply, but which arrive from China after being hand-made. Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng, a partner of Citroen and Peugeot in China, is sending 1,700 parts kits to Russia that only need to be assembled.

And this is how the Russian-Chinese association makes it possible to make real French cars near Moscow. Stellantis was accompanied by its Chinese partner, but its protest has so far remained a dead letter.