The concept of a Russian electric car was promoted at the highest levels, and was even presented to Vladimir Putin. However, the President did not approve of it in any way.
“Everything the government gets involved in becomes unwieldy,” director Kirill Serebrennikov once said. Sobesednik tested this statement with the Russian reaction to Elon Musk, which received hundreds of millions of rubles from the budget. It seems the director was correct.
Minister's car test drive
In March of last year, something unusual occurred at the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technopark in Togliatti. Journalists and security guards surrounded a peculiar-looking car, in which Denis Manturov, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, was seated. The official drove a few laps before getting out of the car, closing the door loudly. The noise startled Manturov a bit, but he quickly found an explanation:
– Since this is still a prototype, we need to improve the sound insulation and finalize the interior to make it standard. But the control is quite comfortable, – explained head of the department.
The official talked about the Russian answer to Elon Musk's American Tesla electric car – the Zetta project, which should be produced by the company of the same name in Tolyatti, with support from the highest levels and hundreds of millions of rubles from the budget.
Initially, Manturov assuredpromised that the serial production of Zetta was planned for the first quarter of 2020. After a test drive in March 2021, the timing was moved pushed to the end of 2020. Then a new deadline was set. “They will start before the end of the year,” Manturov confidently announced. The minister was mistaken once more. named Timeline of a failed car
The name Zetta first appeared in 2017 when an unusual car developed by designers from Zelenograd and Togliatti (at the time it was called “El Panda”) debuted in Ulyanovsk. The event coincided with a visit by President Vladimir Putin, who saw a prototype of an electric car but did not approve of it, only wishing the creator good luck. Nevertheless, PR materials began to appear online, praising the innovation.
“Now all Russians have a real reason to be proud,” “a unique car of its kind,” “there are no equivalents in the whole world,” – showed in brochures. The plans were ambitious: motor-wheels instead of an engine, a media system tablet, keyless entry, and even neurocontrol – allowing the car to be controlled with thoughts.
Photo: archive said This is how the Zetta was supposed to look planned At that time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade began to provide financial assistance to the project. According to the agency, in 2017-2018, “Zetta” was
subsidies totaling 285 million rubles for research and development work (R&D). Also company
a discounted loan of 49.5 million rubles from the Fund for the Development of Monotowns. State support assisted in creating a prototype.
The new product was showcased at an exhibition in Moscow, and shortly after, officials started to advocate for it. In 2018, there was a suggestion to manufacture cars at AvtoVAZ during a meeting, although this did not happen. However, in 2019, the project was discussed at the highest level. issued – Currently, with the active backing of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, a project is being developed for a budget all-wheel drive electric vehicle of domestic design and assembly called “Zetta”, – received Manturov. Serial production was planned to commence before the end of the year. The same information was confirmed by the general director of Zetta, Denis Shchurovsky. Nevertheless, in November, the minister changed his stance, stating that production would begin in the first quarter of 2020. In August, the deadlines were pushed back again, this time to the end of the year. There was also an explanation – the coronavirus pandemic, which “made its own adjustments.”
The project's development required an additional funding of 100 million rubles. However, the Industry Development Fund
in providing credit. Subsequently, the date was postponed again – this time to the end of 2021. So far, as of February 2022, no sales have been reported. A source in the car market informed Sobesednik that “now the project has been put on hold.” said Links at the top
Zetta LLC was established in Togliatti back in 2016. Its owners are Denis Shchurovsky and Waldemar Wagner. Shchurovsky was the one who presented the prototype of the Russian Tesla to Putin and shook hands with the president. Zetta is not his first unsuccessful business endeavor. Prior to that, he owned the AZ Powertrain company, which was supposed to manufacture engines for the new Chevrolet Niva. However, in 2018, the company terminated the contract with the Ministry of Economic Development through the court, and later it was completely liquidated. refused Sources from the car market refer to the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Denis Manturov, as the primary advocate of “Zetta”. Meanwhile, the official himself prefers Elon Musk's brainchild. According to the income statement, Manturov owns a Tesla X100D car (with a price of around 10 million rubles).
But “Interlocutor” found another interesting coincidence. The initial founder of “Zetta” was the Nizhny Novgorod holding “X Group”, which is owned by the top manager of the company “Autocomponent” Mikhail Ershov. Its beneficiary is Oleg Zaitsev, who had close ties to the Nizhny Novgorod governor Valery Shantsev (initially he was a member of the local government, and later became an adviser to the head of the region). Shantsev was previously Vice-Mayor of Moscow and
well acquainted
with the same Denis Manturov. The current governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, was the former Deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and
from him such compliments: “very creative, competent.” Image: government of the Nizhny Novgorod region Denis Manturov and Gleb Nikitin was getting Under Nikitin's leadership, Zetta received three government contracts from Nizhny Novgorod University totaling 25 million rubles, according to SPARK data. One of the projects was to create a working model for the neuromobile.
In Nizhny Novgorod, the company 'Auto-ZET' was established for the production of cars, with one of its founders being Churovsky.
So the story of the sudden success of a local start-up turned into another tale about connections in government. This explains the strong support for the project at the highest levels. However, it did not prevent Zetta from encountering significant financial difficulties.
Work Environment
'In the beginning, the company was stable, and there were no major technical problems. It seemed to me that the only thing lacking was a point of contact and the start of a full-fledged project from the management. The general issue in the background is the prolonged delay in wage payments,' recalled Aleksey Timokhovsky, a former Zetta plant employee, in a conversation with Sobesednik.
There are differing opinions regarding the domestic electric car.
'The project is clearly a failure. They are struggling to launch it, but in reality, no one will need the car after it's launched, and the funding will immediately stop,' read a review about working at Zetta on a recruitment site.
According to the commenter, the plant paid low salaries and dismissed '6 people at a time without warning.' However, Zetta does not always pay its workers either.
In late January 2021, the prosecutor's office in Togliatti discovered that Zetta had not paid salaries to 59 employees totaling over 4 million rubles until the authorities intervened. After the intervention, the debt was repaid. It is unclear where the company's management obtained the money, as Shchurovsky himself is in debt.
Photo: YouTube.com
Currently, Denis Shchurovsky is a defendant in a criminal case
Now regarding Shchurovsky, he is facing a criminal case for failing to pay wages for over two months (part 2 of article 145.1 of the Criminal Code). The businessman has refrained from making any comments, despite being previously active in engaging with the media. reportedInterestingly, Zetta initially estimated its sales potential at 10-15 thousand electric vehicles per year. However, in 2020, only 687 electric cars were purchased in the country.
Originally promoted as a transportation option for people with disabilities, there is no longer any mention of this on the Zetta website.
If Zetta fails to enter the market, it would be the second unsuccessful attempt at developing an electric car in Russia, following Mikhail Prokhorov's Yo-mobile. At least for now, Elon Musk can rest easy.
Now with regard to Shchurovsky excited criminal case – he is accused of non-payment of wages for more than two months (part 2 of article 145.1 of the Criminal Code). The businessman himself refuses from any comments (although he used to actively communicate with the media).
Interestingly, Zetta estimated the sales capacity at 10-15 thousand electric vehicles per year. At the same time, in 2020, only 687 electric cars were bought in the country.
Initially, the car was positioned as a means of transportation for people with disabilities. But now in his description on the Zetta website you will not find any mention of the disabled.
If Zetta never enters the market, it will be the second unsuccessful development of an electric car in Russia – after Mikhail Prokhorov’s Yo-mobile. In any case, Elon Musk can sleep peacefully for now.
