Tenet A8 Production Begins in Shushary

At the AGR holding«s plant in Shushary (near St. Petersburg, Russia), production of the Tenet A8 sedan has begun. The start of production occurred on July 21, the company reported. The cars undergo the full manufacturing cycle — welding, painting, and assembly.

The project was implemented in partnership between AGR and Defetoo. The Tenet A8 is the third brand being introduced at the Shushary site — earlier, assembly of the Jeland and Esteo models was launched there. Other Tenet versions are produced at the AGR plant in Kaluga.

The Tenet A8 is a localized version of the Chery Arrizo 8. It is a mid-size sedan with dimensions of 4757 mm in length, 1832 mm in width, 1469 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2770 mm.

The car is available with two turbocharged gasoline engines. The flagship is a two-liter engine producing 197 hp, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The second option is a 1.6-liter unit with 150 hp.

Inside, there is a 15.6-inch multimedia screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The front seats are anatomical, with heating, ventilation, power adjustments, and memory. The equipment also includes a panoramic roof, multicolor ambient lighting, and Sony audio. The winter package includes heating for front and rear seats, steering wheel, windshield, and washer nozzles.

The Shushary plant has a rich history. It was built in 2008 for General Motors and mothballed in 2015 after the Americans left. In 2020, the site was bought by South Korea«s Hyundai, but production could not be launched. In 2022, the Koreans stopped the assembly line, and in 2024 sold the assets to the AGR group. Production was resumed in spring 2026. The plant now operates in two shifts and is preparing to launch a third. It assembles the Jeland j6, Jeland j7, and the Esteo MX crossover. Soon, production of the Jeland j8 will begin. The plant»s capacity is 100,000 cars annually.

The project to reconstruct and build new buildings at the Shushary auto plant has already been approved by the city committee for urban planning and architecture.