The assembly of Renault models in Uzbekistan has been temporarily suspended due to problems with the supply of components. The Uzbek Ambassador to France and Portugal, Sardor Rustamboev, told reporters on the sidelines of the O’zbekistonlik International Forum on April 23 in Paris.

According to the Ambassador, Renault was originally going to invest in a Jizzakh plant, previously specially built for Peugeot Citroёn, but Volkswagen was first to make investment. After that, Renault, “based on the attractiveness of our market”, implemented the project “from scratch” (greenfield project), having set up a plant for SKD assembly together with local partners.

“The Renault project in Uzbekistan was closely linked to the company's production facilities in the Russian Federation and other countries. Because at the first stage, we agreed to establish a SKD assembly in Uzbekistan with the supply of parts from there ... As you already know, Renault decided to leave the Russian market, which, unfortunately, affected the assembly of cars here,” Sardor Rustamboev said.

The Ambassador noted that now the Uzbek and French authorities are discussing "the restoration of interrupted global supply chains."

The option of a possible transfer of factories from Russia to Uzbekistan is also being considered. In May 2022, the Russian assets of the Renault Group became state property of the Russian Federation: 100% of the shares of Renault Russia were transferred to the Moscow government, 67.69% of the shares of the AvtoVAZ auto concern became the property of FSUE NAMI.

Roodell, which is a local partner and official distributor of Renault, confirmed that the assembly of Renault models "was suspended due to supply problems." “We are still the official distributor of Roodell cars and provide service. While, we still have cars for sale,” the company noted.

Roodell added that deliveries of Lada models have also been suspended, but "after-sales service is now ongoing."

“We will let you know as soon as cars appear. Now we are assembling only Kia and Chery models,” said a representative of the distributor.

Sardor Rustamboyev also commented on the construction of the Peugeot Citroёn automobile plant, which was never launched in 2018.

“The foundation capsule laying ceremony for the plant was held, but the problem was in the transfer of bilateral technical documents. At the same time, it is important to note that Uzbekistan has fulfilled all its obligations - it has completely built modern production facilities in the Jizzakh FEZ. The factory was even painted in the colors of Peugeot Citroën. It is gratifying that another major French automaker has taken its place,” he said.

Reportedly, that it was planned to supply spare parts for Peugeot Citroёn models through Russia, but the Russian subsidiary of the company "had a misunderstanding with the Paris office."

In May 2017, an agreement was signed between Uzavtosanoat and the French Peugeot Citroёn to set up a joint venture Uzbekistan Peugeot Citroёn Automotive for light commercial vehicles in a full industrial cycle under the Peugeot and Citroёn brands. In July of the same year, a ceremony was held to lay a capsule in the foundation of the UzPCA production complex in the Jizzakh free economic zone.

The plant was scheduled to be commissioned on December 10, 2018. But on December 18, Uzavtosanoat announced that, together with PSA Groupe, it would revise the project of the car plant "due to unforeseen changes in the initial data."

In February 2019, Deputy Chairman of Uzavtosanoat, Azizbek Shukurov, stated that the Uzbekistan Peugeot Citroёn Automotive plant was almost ready, with the exception of technological issues. In March 2020, it became known that the project was closed, and the production of Volkswagen cars was organized on the basis of the constructed plant in Jizzakh.