Russian deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov said last week over half of the cars in Russia will be electric vehicles within the next two decades, Kallanish reports.

“Many automakers, global giants, plan to fully switch to electric propulsion by 2035–2040 and the use of hydrogen engines because of their environmental friendliness is a steady trend,” Borisov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. “I think Russia cannot be on the sidelines and at least electric transport will prevail in the total volume of vehicles.”

He added that the government is interested in these cars being produced on the territory of Russia, so now the ministry of industry and trade is forming a strategy for EVs.

Earlier, the industry minister Denis Manturov said at the same forum that an electric car is being developed in the country based the Aurus brand.

Russia plans to produce at least 150,000 EVs per year by 2030, with a share of at least 10% of the total car production by then. The Ministry of Economic Development is seeking approval for draft concept for the development and use of electric transport in the country. 

The cost of the concept is estimated at RUB 850 billion ($11.6 billion), of which RUB 600 billion are expected to be private investments.

Russian domestic sales of EVs continued to increase in January-April to 502 unit, which is eight times more than in the same period of 2020 (77 units). In April alone, 195 EVs were sold.