HardwareCarScoopsabout 4 hours ago
Russia Sells Bootleg BMWs From Leftover Parts
5 min read
Avtotor in Kaliningrad assembled 145 unauthorized BMW SUVs using leftover parts after the company ended cooperation with BMW Group following the 2022 invasion. These vehicles include X5, X6, and X7 models registered as 2025 or 2026 despite retaining pre-facelift styling from before that year. Local sourcing incorporates wiring harnesses, hoses, rubber components, and painted body panels while software systems remain disconnected from official BMW engineering oversight.
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