Volkswagen Funds Blocked by Russia in Contract Dispute

GAZ Sues VW in Russian Court Over Breach of Contract

Numerous vehicle manufacturers are withdrawing from the Russian marketplace. One of them is Volkswagen, which is encountering an issue at this moment. Reuters reports that a local court has frozen all the organization’s assets there.

A controversy has arisen due to the termination of Volkswagen’s contract with the Russian automotive manufacturer GAZ for production of VW vehicles in Nizhny Novgorod. In August, the Munich-based carmaker ended its agreement, prompting GAZ to file a lawsuit against Volkswagen seeking reimbursement of a sum equalling roughly $201.3 million, insisting they had breached their commitment.

“Separately, VW is working to sell its interests in the country, which includes the factory in Kaluga,” a Volkswagen spokesperson stated to Reuters. The process is reportedly close to being finalized. “We trust that the lawsuit will not impede the transaction,” the spokesperson added.

Exiting the Russian marketplace is a laborious practice for firms. The administration of that nation necessitates companies from countries harboring sanctions against Russia to procure the authorization of a body prior to being able to dispose of possessions there.

In June 2022, Volkswagen declared an idea in Russia to remunerate employees and deliver health insurance if they decided to leave the firm voluntarily. Volkwagen shortly curbed constructing vehicles in the nation after the aggression of Ukraine, but marketing the business has been a much more intricate course of action.

Other car manufacturers have seen success departing Russia. As an example, Ford disposed of its properties in that region several months after discontinuing services there. This accord makes allowance for the Blue Oval to reclaim their organization within a span of five years should circumstances around the globe shift.

Mercedes-Benz has dispensed with their Russian operations to the nation’s automotive distributer Avtodom. In any case, the German carmaker continues possessing a fifteen percent share of the Russian truck producer Kamaz.

Renault disposed of not just its own shares in Russia, but also the 67.69 percent stake in AvtoVAZ too. As with the Ford venture, the manufacturer has the power to reopen its market in the region after a period of six years provided that certain circumstances evolve in the meantime. There is notably a probability that one of the new proprietors could bring back the Moskvitch marque.

Source: Reuters