Japanese automakers Mazda, Toyota to suspend production in Russia

Japanese automaker Mazda is in talks to end production at a joint venture in Russia’s Far East. The company says the war in Ukraine has made the plant unsustainable.

Mazda and the Russian automaker Sollers set up their joint venture in Vladivostok in 2012 to assemble SUVs and other cars for the Russian market using parts shipped from Japan. They produced about 29,000 vehicles last year.

Operations were suspended in April after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted supply chains. Mazda officials say they can’t see production resuming under current circumstances.

Another Japanese automaker, Toyota, has also announced plans to shut its factory in St. Petersburg because of the impact of the war in Ukraine.