Main points
- The Japanese company Mazda has returned to the Russian market, introducing two crossover models, the CX-5 and CX-50, which are supplied from China.
- In 2022, Mazda sold its stake in the Vladivostok plant, but through structures related to the parent company, cars became available in Russia again.
A famous car company is returning to Russia / Collage by Channel 24, photo by Getty Images, Mazda
The Japanese Mazda left the Russian market in 2022 and in 2025 stated that it had lost the right to buy out its plant. However, the automaker still returned and entered the top ten most popular brands among Russians.
How and why did Mazda return to Russia?
Mazda sold its stake in the Vladivostok plant “due to the situation in Ukraine that arose in February 2022,” KSE reports.
However, recently, the Russian division of Mazda Motor Corp, which is 100% owned by the Japanese company, openly introduced two crossover models to the Russian market – the CX-5 and CX-50. According to reports, the cars are supplied from a factory in China and are sold with a warranty.
Russian media reports that more than 2,000 new Mazda cars have been registered in Russia since the beginning of 2026. This is the first time that the Japanese brand has entered the top ten most popular automakers in the Russian market.
Through structures associated with the parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation cars are also sold in Russia.
Mazda reported the loss of the plant
In November 2025, it became known that Mazda Motor lost the right to buy back its 50% stake in a joint venture for the production of cars in Russia. The company's share was received by its former Russian partner, Reuters reports.
Mazda's stake in the joint venture, which previously assembled passenger cars in Vladivostok, was sold to Sollers for one euro in October 2022 with a buyout option for the same amount within three years.
The Sollers Group has not received any offers or requests from Mazda to exercise the option, and under the current circumstances we do not see a need for this,
– says Sollers in his response.
The company said the Vladivostok plant, which had the capacity to produce up to 50,000 vehicles per year, was restarted in 2023 and now produces buses under the Sollers brand.
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