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Many foreign auto makers are "hatching plans" to return to the Russian market if and when the sanctions ease, first and foremost, Korean and Japanese auto manufacturers. This is reported by Autonews.ru, citing automobile market experts.

According to Sergey Tselikov, head of the Avtostat analytical agency, "the Koreans, Hyundai and Kia, will probably be among the first". Oleg Moseev, former president of the Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD), agrees. He believes that the Koreans and Japanese will be the first to have a high chance of returning to Russia. "They have already set certain processes in motion. Again, Hyundai, Kia - through the plant in St. Petersburg, the Solaris brand, attention to recall campaigns and through other tools. Toyota, for example, has brought engines into Russia for a service campaign, is holding dealer conferences, and is working on bringing in cars through China," he said.

Tselikov adds that brands that do not have the option to buy back their plants are already systematically restoring car deliveries without being tied to assembly production in Russia. Moseev, in turn, points out that Japanese brands have continued to maintain their official warranties in Russia and are communicating "normally" with dealers. The Russian market is very important for them, the expert stressed.

At the same time, car dealers are sceptical about the timing of the return of foreign brands. For example, Svetlana Vinogradova, General Director of Rolf, notes that even in the best-case scenario they will not return before 2027-2028, since the logistics and collaborative effort will have to be built anew. Andrei Olkhovsky, General Director of the Avtodom Group, says that it will only be possible to talk about the return of foreign manufacturers once the sanctions policy is completely terminated. He believes it will take another two years after that for the models to be certified and adapted.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in June that Western companies – including automotive companies – should "promote" the lifting of sanctions against Russia before potentially returning to the Russian market. Previously he had reported that there was no information yet about Hyundai and Toyota returning to Russia. In April, Yonhap News Agency reported that Kia had included Russia in its 2025 sales plan.