Russia has complained long and bitterly that Western firms refuse to share technology with its home-grown auto industry, but now the billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets has introduced Russia’s first home-grown hybrid cars in hopes of proving that Russia can compete in the global car industry. But, according to the WSJ, the launch of the brand known as “Yo” (“ë” in Russian) was not without its problems
Mr. Prokhorov said he intends to “break the stereotype saying Russia can’t produce good cars,” even though an executive needed three attempts to successfully start the prototype car with a mobile phone using a remote-start feature.
But then what do you expect from a Russian-built prototype of a hybrid car that’s set to cost only $10k?
Apparently it’s not a good idea to expect too much. Though reports on the quality of the Yo-mobile prototypes are still coming in, the WSJ reckons
Mr. Prokhorov is spending €150 million ($198.4 million) to combine a gasoline engine and an electric motor inside a noisy package resembling a large, clunky toy car. Nearly all the components will be from Russia or the former Soviet Union
“Noisy” and “clunky” aren’t exactly what you’re looking for in a new hybrid car concept, but then the low price point means the Yo-mobile lineup faces certain inherent compromises.
the Yo-mobile will only reach speeds of 130 kilometers an hour (81 miles an hour), limiting its appeal for some drivers. Fuel efficiency is aimed at 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers, or 67 miles per gallon.
Production is planned for 2012, and Prokhorov hopes to build 10k of the Yo-branded cars, vans and trucks each year, with a three-year break-even target. Yo is a joint venture between Prokhorov’s Onexim holding company and an unidentified St Petersburg-based truck manufacturer.
I’ve seen YO vehicles many times in the States…mostly small mid-80s pickups from Japan, for some reason.
From the looks of the car above, will they be calling is the Jay Leno model?
How do you pronounce “ë” ?
You pronounce it “yo.” Like a yo-yo.
An American English speaker will never say it right. So, no point in knowing.
I’m having trouble picking up the scale from the picture. Is this Yaris small, Prius midsize or larger? Also, is the extreme contrast between top, red, and bottom, beige, some sort of option.
if they have enuf mulla it should not be very hard to built a hybrid. As for a Rear wheel drive can add an electric motor/gen in between the bellhousing , between the fly wheel and the trans.
Add power to the engine/power train when needed. and run it as a generator when decelerates.
Either add electric motors/gen to rear axle or fit hub motors inside hubs. The latter can be more trickier as the hub motor has to be smaller. The mini did make one with hub motors on all 4 wheels.
“Yo is a joint venture between Prokhorov’s Onexim holding company and an unidentified St Petersburg-based truck manufacturer.”
Why is the truck manufacturer unidentified? Doesn’t ALL the credibility of this venture depend on who this is? Seems one would make a big deal about this important partner (unless it’s not a big deal)?
The main problem that I have had with the Russian cars that I have encountered is how inconsistent their quality is. Some were almost ok, even thought technology wise the were decades behind western cars, while others were maintenance nightmares from day one.
It might have been since this was back in the Soviet era that the cars were put together with out needed parts to fill the production quota or it might have had more to do with how much VODKA was downed with the lunch.
Either way hitec Russian car with consistent quality, sounds like a tall order.