(Reuters) – A Soviet-era automobile brand, the “Moskvich,” could be making a surprising comeback in Russia as Moscow acquires assets from Renault (EPA:) Following the departure of France’s carmaker from the country.

Moscow’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared that he would nationalize Renault’s city-based car plant. The move came after the Western automobile manufacturer said it was closing its local operations in response to the outbreak of conflict in Ukraine.

Sobyanin stated that the plant had a “long, glorious history”. It will now be used to make passenger cars of the Moskvich marque. These vehicles were made 20 years ago.

Moscow Renault’s plant will be closed by the foreign owner. “It has the right to close this plant, but thousands of workers cannot be without work,” Sobyanin wrote on his blog. We will be opening a new chapter in the Moskvich’s history in 2022.

Moskvich is a Russian word that means “a native from Moscow” and was designed as a strong, economical passenger car. It features parts made in Russia, East Germany, and East Germany.

The Soviet Union collapse led to the privatization of the auto manufacturer and then its bankruptcy.

According to Autostat, there are nearly 200,000 Moskvich vehicles still in Russia.

MADE IN RUSSIA

Sergei Tselikov, head of Autostat, said that Sobyanin called the Moskvich “legendary” and it may be difficult to return the Moskvich.

Tselikov replied that it took at least 2 years and at minimum $1million to build a car.

Sobyanin claimed that while the Moscow plant was going to be used initially for making conventional cars using combustion engines, it will eventually produce electric cars.

According to the Russian trade minister, he would work with Russia in order for as many Russian components as possible. Kamaz will be Russia’s primary technological partner.

Kamaz, in a statement, stated it supports the mayor’s decision but that technological cooperation issues are still under discussion. Once those issues have been addressed, it will issue an official statement.

Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operations” that aims to dearm Ukraine and defend it against fascists. Both the West and Ukraine claim that the accusation of fascists is unfounded and that the war was an unprovoked aggression.