by The Russian automotive industry has undergone drastic changes since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western brands have massively left the market, selling factories and halting local production. The resulting void has been filled in two ways: a flood of Chinese cars and attempts by local players to establish their own production.
New premium brand based on a Chinese model
One such player is Aurus Motors. Founded in 2018 to create the presidential limousine “Senat” for Vladimir Putin, it has transformed this name into a separate premium brand. Now Senat is its own marque, which has just introduced its first production model.
However, despite its claimed “domestic” origin, the new car, known as the Senat 900, is not actually a Russian engineering development. Instead, it is a rebadged version of the current Hongqi H9, one of the largest and most luxurious sedans on the Chinese market.
Design and technical specifications
The Senat 900 features a new front end with a unique grille, different headlights, and a fresh bumper. The redesigned grille borrows stylistic elements from existing Aurus models, allowing it to be visually distinguished from the Chinese donor car to some extent. The rear of the car, however, is almost a complete copy of the Hongqi, with identical taillights and an LED strip. The rear bumper and exhaust trim also remain unchanged. The same applies to the body profile.
The length of the Senat 900 is 5.14 meters. The car is offered in two interior layout options: a four-seat VIP class or a traditional five-seat configuration. The interior is almost identical to the Hongqi H9, except for the emblem on the steering wheel, which, however, retains the same shape. Buyers are offered Nappa leather upholstery, wood trim, seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, as well as a full set of driver assistance systems.
Like the Hongqi, the Senat 900 is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine producing 326 hp (243 kW) and 450 Nm of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes 6.5 seconds. Air suspension is included as standard equipment.
Production and pricing
Production has already been set up at the former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg. Orders for the Senat 900 are open in Russia. The price for the five-seat version starts at 12 million rubles (approximately $162,800 at the current exchange rate), while the four-seat VIP variant costs 12.5 million rubles ($169,600).
Thus, with the exception of the front grille, the Senat 900 is an almost identical copy of the Hongqi H9.
This situation vividly illustrates the deep dependence of the Russian auto industry on Chinese technology and components following the departure of Western manufacturers. Instead of developing their own models, Russian companies are increasingly resorting to rebranding ready-made Chinese cars, which allows them to quickly fill the market but does not contribute to the development of their own engineering competencies. It is worth noting that the price of the Senat 900 is significantly higher than the cost of the original Hongqi H9 on the Chinese market, making it a niche product for a very wealthy audience that does not have access to imported premium cars due to sanctions restrictions.
