{"id":14876,"date":"2026-02-05T13:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.kse.ua\/news\/mazda-returns-to-russia-ranks-among-top-10-car-sellers-b4ukraine-and-kse-institute\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T13:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:07:13","slug":"mazda-returns-to-russia-ranks-among-top-10-car-sellers-b4ukraine-and-kse-institute","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/kse.ua\/en\/news\/mazda-returns-to-russia-ranks-among-top-10-car-sellers-b4ukraine-and-kse-institute\/","title":{"rendered":"Mazda Returns to Russia, Ranks Among Top 10 Car Sellers \u2014 B4Ukraine and KSE Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mazda vehicles have reentered the Russian market, despite the company\u2019s previous formal suspension of operations in Russia. KSE Institute and B4Ukraine \u2014 a global coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations \u2014 are urging Mazda Motor Corporation to immediately suspend and cease all commercial activities in the Russian Federation and to take concrete steps toward a complete and responsible exit from the Russian market. We are calling on the Japanese government to incentivize and reward responsible exits, while introducing deterrents \u2014 including financial penalties, restrictions on contracts, and exclusion from public procurement \u2014 for firms that continue doing business in Russia.<\/em><\/p>\n

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mazda has suspended<\/a> operations in Russia and divested from the Russian joint venture, selling its stake in the Vladivostok plant “due to the situation in Ukraine that arose in February 2022.”<\/p>\n

However, recently, Mazda Motor Corp\u2019s Russian unit, which is wholly owned by the Japanese carmaker, has openly introduced<\/a> two crossover models \u2014 the CX-5 and CX-50 \u2014 to the Russian market. The vehicles are reportedly<\/a> sourced from a plant in China and are sold with warranties.<\/p>\n

Russian media report<\/a> that more than 2,000 new Mazda vehicles have been registered in Russia since the beginning of 2026, marking the first time the Japanese brand has entered the country\u2019s top ten best-selling car brands. Vehicles from Toyota Motor Corporation<\/a> are also being sold in Russia through entities linked to the parent company.<\/p>\n

Mazda\u2019s Russian unit reported<\/a> revenue of 1.6 billion roubles (approximately $21 million) in 2024, according to the entity\u2019s official financial statements.<\/p>\n

Mazda declined to respond to B4Ukraine\u2019s inquiry<\/a>, intensifying concerns about the company\u2019s potential continued contribution to Russia\u2019s war economy. This refusal raises concerns about Mazda\u2019s lack of transparency and accountability regarding its Russia-related operations, as stipulated under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights<\/a>, which encourage public reporting, disclosure of relevant risk assessments, and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders and civil society organisations.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Moscow continues to bomb children in Ukraine, some Japanese carmakers are finding creative ways to make millions in Russia, even if it means fueling Russia\u2019s military budget and war economy. This is unacceptable and must stop immediately. The Japanese government must take stronger action to ensure that Japanese companies end business with a country that is not only destroying the Ukrainian people and international order but also threatening Japan\u2019s own security,\u201d said Nezir Sinani, <\/b>Executive Director of B4Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile Japan is providing financial support to Ukraine, some Japanese companies, including Mazda, demonstrate an unwillingness to uphold the democratic values of Japanese society. By continuing business operations in the aggressor state, they are in effect supporting Russia\u2019s war economy, which fuels large-scale, well-documented war crimes,\u201d said Andrii Onopriienko, <\/b>Deputy Director for Development at KSE and Head of the LeaveRussia Project.<\/p>\n

B4Ukraine and KSE Institute urge the Japanese government and its economic agencies to use all available powers to halt support for trade and investment with Russia, including denying public funds to companies that continue operating there, and to set clear, enforceable standards for corporate conduct grounded in human rights and economic security.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mazda vehicles have reentered the Russian market, despite the company\u2019s previous formal suspension of operations in Russia. KSE Institute and B4Ukraine \u2014 a global coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations \u2014 are urging Mazda Motor Corporation to immediately suspend and cease all commercial activities in the Russian Federation and to take concrete steps\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[251],"tags":[241,254,271],"department":[],"news_type":[34],"project":[270],"region":[108],"unit":[223],"class_list":["post-14876","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","category-sanctions-en","tag-budget-en","tag-sanctions-en","tag-suspended-operations-en","news_type-news","project-leave-russia-en","region-russia","unit-institute-en"],"acf":{"primary_unit":223,"news_intro":"","header_cta_mode":"event","header_event_cta_text":"\u0414\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0456\u0457","header_event_cta_url":"","header_research_cta_text":"\u0427\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0438 \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0456\u0434\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f","header_research_pdf":null,"author_person":"","author_name":"","related_news":null,"related_events":[],"related_people":[],"related_links":null,"external_link":"","external_link_label":"","is_featured":false,"is_featured_archive":false,"quote_text":"","quote_author":"","quote_author_role":"","program_title":"\u0424\u043e\u0440\u043c\u0430\u0442 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0430\u043c\u0438","program_items":null,"reference_title":"\u0414\u043e\u0432\u0456\u0434\u043a\u0430","reference_content":"","source_system":"migration","source_id":"65669","content_owner":"kse","last_reviewed":null,"visibility":"public","platform_id":"","platform_version":"","platform_managed":false},"yoast_head":"\nMazda Returns to Russia, Ranks Among Top 10 Car Sellers \u2014 B4Ukraine and KSE Institute - KSE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kse.ua\/en\/news\/mazda-returns-to-russia-ranks-among-top-10-car-sellers-b4ukraine-and-kse-institute\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mazda Returns to Russia, Ranks Among Top 10 Car Sellers \u2014 B4Ukraine and KSE Institute\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mazda vehicles have reentered the Russian market, despite the company\u2019s previous formal suspension of operations in Russia. 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