Kim Jong-un's Aurus Car From Putin Feature $15.5 Million Worth of South Korean Components

By Thea Felicity

Jun 28 2024, 11:33 AM EDT

TOPSHOT-NKOREA-RUSSIA-DIPLOMACY — TOPSHOT - In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (2R) presents an Aurus car to North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (L) in Pyongyang, on June 19, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defence agreement on June 19 with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, who offered his "full support" on Ukraine. The pledge of military cooperation was part of a strategic treaty signed during a summit in Pyongyang, where Putin was making his first visit in 24 years. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Last week, VCPost reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a strengthened mutual defense agreement. Part of the meeting includes a Russian-made Aurus limousine gift from Putin.

With US sanctions spanning different industries and automakers leaving the country, the sedan aims to show Russia's domestic car sector and reduce dependence on imported technology and goods.

However, Reuters has learned that customs records reveal that the company responsible for manufacturing the Aurus limousine relies heavily on imported parts, including millions of dollars worth from South Korea, a country Kim has labeled as his "primary foe."

Records also show that between 2018 and 2023, Russia imported equipment and components valued at at least $34 million for assembling Aurus vehicles, with nearly $15.5 million worth of parts coming from South Korea.

Russia Imported Body Parts of Aurus Car from South Korea

Aurus LLC, which the United States has sanctioned since February 2024, was developed by the Russian state-owned research institute NAMI in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers, which has since sold its stake.

The imports included car body parts, sensors, programmable controllers, switches, and welding equipment.

Even after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, foreign supplies continued, with nearly $16 million worth of goods, including $5 million from South Korea, imported since February 2022. Among the largest suppliers to Aurus are South Korean firms such as Kyungki Industrial Co, BYT CO LTD, and Enertech International Inc., along with Italian and Hong Kong companies.

While it remains unclear which parts ended up in the Aurus gifted to Kim, these imports do not violate current sanctions.

The company began official production in Russia's Tatarstan region in 2021 and plans to start additional production in St. Petersburg later this year.

With foreign automakers such as Toyota leaving Russia, vehicles like the Aurus are poised to gain more sales traction. This is boosted by its high visibility during discussions between Putin and Jong-un and its possibly "strong car" reputation in the country.