AGR Holding Launches Tenet A8 Sedan Production at Former General Motors Plant in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, July 21, 2026 — AGR Holding and China's Defetoo have launched production of the Tenet A8 sedan at the former General Motors plant in Shushary, St. Petersburg, the AGR group's press service reported. The new model expands the site's production programme to three Russian automobile brands — Jeland, Esteo and Tenet — and marks a further step in the partners' move towards localized car production in Russia.

A new stage for the Shushary plant

"The launch of production of Tenet A8 opens up a new stage in the development of the brand's range of models and expands the production programme for the AGR holding's plant in Shushary: it now includes models from three Russian automobile brands — Jeland, Esteo and Tenet," the press service said.

The company described the start of output as confirmation of the holding and Defetoo's gradual journey towards developing localized automobile production in Russia. The St. Petersburg site, formerly owned by General Motors, was brought back into operation after the partners completed its refurbishment in February.

Two turbocharged gasoline versions

The Tenet A8 will be produced with two different gasoline motors:

• a 2-liter turbocharged engine rated at 197 horsepower;
• a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine rated at 150 horsepower.

Industry-specific media have reported that the Chery Arrizo 8 Pro served as the prototype for the automobile.

One holding, two plants

AGR LLC, or AGR Automotive Group — Volkswagen's former asset in Kaluga — is also partnering with Defetoo in the full-cycle production of Tenet automobiles in Kaluga. That plant, located in the Grabtsevo industrial park, has the capacity to produce 225,000 automobiles per year.

The St. Petersburg plant, in turn, produces J6 and J7 Jeland crossovers; the prototypes for these models were vehicles from Jaecoo, a sub-brand of China's Chery. According to statements by AGR Holding CEO Andrei Karagin reported in the media, the company plans to localize the production of six models for the Jeland brand, from the J and C ranges, at the plant.

Refurbishment and capacity

In February, AGR and Defetoo completed the refurbishment of the automobile plant in St. Petersburg. After the full ramp-up, the annual capacity of the site will reach 100,000 vehicles, and the production line can manufacture up to 12 different types of bodies — a configuration that allows several models and brands to share one conveyor.

Key facts of the announcement

• Event: start of Tenet A8 sedan production at the former General Motors plant in Shushary, St. Petersburg.
• Partners: Russia's AGR Holding and China's Defetoo.
• Brands at the Shushary site: Jeland, Esteo and Tenet.
• Engines: 2.0-liter turbo (197 hp) and 1.6-liter turbo (150 hp), both gasoline.
• St. Petersburg capacity after full ramp-up: 100,000 vehicles per year; up to 12 body types on the line.
• Kaluga plant (Grabtsevo industrial park): capacity of 225,000 automobiles per year, full-cycle Tenet production.
• Jeland localization plan: six models from the J and C ranges.

Company and contacts

AGR Holding (AGR Automotive Group / AGR LLC) — a Russian automotive holding operating plants in Kaluga and St. Petersburg; former Volkswagen asset in Kaluga, partnering with China's Defetoo on the Tenet, Jeland and Esteo brands.

Contacts: the AGR group's press service, as cited by Interfax in the source report.

Website: https://agr.auto/