Jeland at the Start: New Car Brand Info

AGR Holding, the company managing two former Hyundai plants in St. Petersburg, announced the launch of the new automotive brand Jeland in partnership with China«s Defetoo. Serial production is slated to begin in the first half of 2026, but test assembly appears to already be underway.

Production of the new cars will be organized at the former General Motors plant in Shushary (a suburban area of St. Petersburg). Plans to revive this facility became known in spring 2025, and in December of that year, the company began hiring personnel.

AGR Holding acquired the Hyundai assets in early 2024. At the plant on Levashovskoye Highway, the company assembled Solaris cars from remaining components, but production stopped in late 2025 due to a shortage of parts. The holding«s portfolio also includes the former Volkswagen plant in Kaluga, where the Tenet brand is produced.

Details about the Jeland lineup have not yet been disclosed. The press release notes that the vehicles will be designed with the expectations of Russian car enthusiasts and will target key market segments.

However, back in spring 2025, reports emerged that Shushary would assemble adapted versions of Jaecoo crossovers—a sub-brand of China«s Chery. In test mode, the J6, J7, and J8 models are already being produced at AGR»s site in Kamenka (a settlement in Leningrad Oblast). According to sources, the conveyor in Shushary has also started operating on a single shift. The plan for 2026 calls for the production of more than 100,000 vehicles.

The first Jeland models will be the J6, J7, and J8 crossovers. The J6 is certified in two variants: front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive version features a 1.5-liter turbo engine with 146 hp, while the all-wheel drive version has a 1.6-liter engine with 150 hp. Transmissions include a six-speed dual-clutch robot or a CVT for front-wheel drive, and a seven-speed robot for all-wheel drive. Dimensions are similar to the Jaecoo J6: length 4,509 mm, width 1,860 mm, height 1,650 mm, wheelbase 2,620 mm.

The J7 is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine producing 186 hp, all-wheel drive, and a seven-speed robotic transmission. For the Russian market, the model received improved noise insulation, adapted suspension, and a cold-climate options package including heated seats, steering wheel, and windows. Dimensions are 4,600 x 1,898 x 1,680 mm.

The largest J8 has dimensions of 4,820 x 1,930 x 1,710 mm and is equipped with a 2-liter engine producing 249 hp, with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed robot.

According to Alexander Sitov, head of the Committee on Industrial Policy, during 2026 the plant plans to produce not only crossovers but also sedans—a total of three to five models. There is also word of possible production of Omoda crossovers (another Chery sub-brand) under the new brand Onives.

The Chinese partner Defetoo is described as a state-owned company whose majority shareholder is the Committee for the Development of the Economic and Technological Zone of Wuhu in Anhui Province. Defetoo itself states that it is not affiliated with Chery, but in practice, through its Russian legal entities, it controls that brand«s assets in Russia.

The press release notes: «The creation of the JELAND brand is part of a long-term strategy of AGR Holding and Defetoo to form a modern Russian automotive ecosystem based on international technological cooperation, localization of key competencies, and sustainable production development.»

Defetoo owns several Russian companies, including Jeland Rus LLC (official seller of Jaecoo), Tenet Rus LLC, TsAIR LLC in Shushary, Onivs Rus LLC (seller of Omoda), and Votur Motor Rus LLC (seller of Jetour). Thus, all of Chery«s Russian assets have come under Defetoo»s management.