Tensions are growing in automotive circles after a video appeared on the Internet, which for the first time gives strong indications of what the revived Volga will look like. According to sources, the project to revive the iconic brand is progressing, but its new look is causing serious debate.
The footage, quickly spread on social networks, shows a Geely Atlas crossover being transported on a car carrier. What immediately attracts attention is the replacement of the Chinese emblems with the well-known Volga logo – placed both on the radiator grille and on the wheel hub caps. A curious detail, however, is that even with the new signs, the car has retained the Geely Design inscription – a clear sign of the donation and cooperation that has been talked about for months.
According to inside information, the new “Volga“ project is being developed by the Russian company JSC “Light Vehicle Production“ in collaboration with the Chinese giant Geely. It has been clear from the very beginning that this is a partnership that will probably rely on proven Chinese platforms.
Although the video quickly became a major topic, the reaction of the parties involved is rather mysterious. JSC “Light Vehicle Production“, which is implementing the project, commented on the topic to “Rossiyskaya Gazeta“ as follows: “We do not confirm the authenticity of the video and do not comment on the situation.“ – an answer that neither denies nor confirms, leaving room for speculation.
A critically important clarification came from the GAZ Group, which categorically distanced itself from the revival of the brand: “The Gorky Automobile Plant is not implementing the “Volga“ project. This project is being implemented by JSC “Production of Passenger Cars“, an independent company that is not a legal entity of the Gorky Automobile Plant and is not part of the GAZ Group“, the GAZ press service said.
This distinction confirms that the project has been fully taken over by an external structure, even though it is based on the territory of Russia. But what is next?
Despite the official reluctance to comment, the leaked video and previous internal information point to the logical: the revived Volga will be a crossover based on the Geely Atlas. The strategy of the so-called “badge engineering“ seems to be the most likely path to quickly launching a model on the market.
It remains to be seen whether this first model will be able to attract buyers with more than just nostalgia for the Volga. Serial production of cars under the revived brand is planned to begin in the spring of 2026.
By the way, the Geely brand, which has recently been selling its products in our country, and quite successfully, offers several crossover models. One of them is the aforementioned Atlas. In October 2022, the Chinese launched the third generation of the Boyue model, called the Boyue L, using the CMA platform. It is this model that is exported abroad under the names Geely Starray (sold in our country at a price of 63,545 leva including VAT) and Geely Atlas.