VW Considers Exporting Russia-Built Cars as Market Slumps

"There are studies within the Volkswagen Group RUS as to whether to export cars from Kaluga," a VW spokesman said on Wednesday, adding that no decision had yet been taken.

In the first seven months, sales of VW-brand cars in Russia dropped 44% to 42,525 in a market down 35% to 913,181, according to data from the Moscow-based Association of European Business in Russia.

VW has already scaled back production at its plant in Kaluga south of Moscow, which builds the VW Polo subcompact and Tiguan SUV, as well as the Skoda Rapid compact.

It is not clear where the cars from Kaluga could also be sold outside Russia. Automakers are already considering shipping China-built cars to North America, where demand is higher.