A Russian automaker supplying SUVs and trucks to Moscow’s troops has blamed Western sanctions for quality issues with its vehicles, as complaints from the front lines grow louder.
Months of Criticism
Sollers, the parent company of Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ), admitted to Russian media outlet Gazeta that it lost key suppliers in 2022 due to international sanctions. To keep its production lines running, UAZ quickly switched to alternative suppliers, according to Sollers’ press office.
The company’s statement follows months of criticism from Dmitry Rogozin, a former top Russian official, now stationed in the Donbas region, according to Ziare.
Rogozin, who once led Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, has repeatedly voiced concerns about the poor quality of UAZ vehicles sent to Russian troops. Since his dismissal in July 2022, Rogozin has become a vocal leader of a volunteer group on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
Rogozin has been criticizing UAZ vehicles since July, stating that they appear new but suffer from oil leaks, fragile transmissions, and engines that fail after just 3,000 miles of use.
He shared stories of a UAZ "Patriot" SUV breaking down just three miles from combat, forcing Russian soldiers to flee under Ukrainian drone surveillance.
Customized Vehicles for Specific Combat Missions.
In September, Rogozin’s own UAZ vehicle malfunctioned due to a power steering fluid leak, prompting him to switch vehicles.
The second UAZ truck fared no better, with the gearshift breaking off mid-drive. Rogozin posted a photo of the broken gearshift on his Telegram channel, accusing UAZ of producing such low-quality vehicles that it seemed like sabotage.
Despite these issues, Rogozin announced Thursday that his volunteer group, BARS-Sarmat, would collaborate with UAZ to ensure better quality control of the vehicles sent to the front.
Sollers confirmed that talks were ongoing about producing customized vehicles for specific combat missions.
Sollers, once partnered with Ford and Mazda, has been hit hard by Western sanctions. However, the company reported $452.7 million in revenue for the first half of 2023, a 27.3% increase over the same period in 2022. Net profit was reported at $16.4 million.
