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The Russia-Ukraine conflict that erupted in 2022 has led to Western sanctions on Russia. Consequently, almost all international automakers, including BMW, Hyundai, Tesla, and Toyota, withdrew from the Russian market.
However, according to Carscoops, a significant number of BMW vehicles have recently been smuggled into Russia through individuals associated with the brand.
Specifically, several employees of a BMW dealership in Hanover, Germany, clandestinely transported over 100 new cars across the Russian border to sell to local customers. The automaker only discovered this incident in mid-December.
Speaking to the media, a BMW representative acknowledged the unusual compliance violations in vehicle exports and promptly terminated the employees involved.
“The BMW Group has decided to dismiss the employees primarily responsible for this matter,” BMW Germany stated in a press release.
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BMW X5. Photo: Car And Driver. |
This incident is considered a significant communications crisis in Germany, as automakers continue to strive to prevent illegal transactions. It remains unclear whether BMW Germany will face any legal repercussions.
Since the imposition of sanctions, numerous models from renowned brands have been channeled into the Russian “black market,” especially high-end vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.
Evidently, despite the political turmoil, the demand for luxury cars in Russia remains unabated.
While Western automakers grapple with combating illegal car sales in Russia, Chinese automakers are reaping the benefits. Previously, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Russia emerged as a new destination for Chinese automakers in the first nine months, with 849,951 vehicles exported.
“The impressive growth in China’s auto export volume in recent times is largely due to the Russian market,” said Cui Dongshu, CPCA’s secretary-general, to local media.
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