Technological Sovereignty and Component Base: Key Priorities of the Automotive Industry Strategy until 2035

Achieving this ambitious task requires consolidating the efforts of business and all levels of government. It's not just about increasing assembly volumes, but about the comprehensive development of the industry: improving the technological equipment of enterprises, increasing labor productivity, and strengthening the competitive positions of Russian cars both domestically and on external markets.

Historical experience confirms the realism of the set goal. Back in 2017, the share of domestically assembled cars reached 85%, demonstrating the potential of the Russian automotive industry. However, for sustainable progress, formal fulfillment of localization targets is not enough—it's important to achieve a systemic effect.

Special attention should be paid to the affordability of cars for the population. Mass renewal of the vehicle fleet directly affects road safety and the level of motorization in the country. At the same time, there is a direct dependence: a drop in demand for cars reduces the economic feasibility of investments in local production. Thus, stimulating sales and supporting citizens' purchasing power become integral elements of the industry development strategy.

A serious challenge for the Russian automotive industry remains the high dependence on foreign components. Under sanctions pressure, the shortage of electronic components, modern active and passive safety systems, transmission system elements, lighting equipment, and other critically important units is especially acute.

In these circumstances, the priority becomes not just assembling ready-made kits from abroad, but creating our own component base. The optimal path is a combination of adapting advanced foreign technologies, implementing developments by Russian engineers and research teams,  and building sustainable cooperative chains within the country.

This approach will not only reduce external risks but also ensure the advanced development of the domestic automotive industry. Forming a full production cycle—from design and component development to final assembly—will become the foundation of technological sovereignty and long-term competitiveness of the Russian automotive industry.

Author: Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of World Economy and World Finance at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Makarova Ekaterina Borisovna