MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- As the midday sun rays glide over the exquisite carvings of the main entrance of Moscow's Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, rows of elegant retro and modern cars await visitors to admire their sleek designs and learn their remarkable history.
File photo: IC
The ProDvizhenie (Moving Forward) car festival, one of Russia's most remarkable automotive events, was held from July 30 to Aug. 2 this year, showcasing over 300 cars, including domestic and foreign classic cars, rare supercars, vintage minibuses, bespoke off-road vehicles and futuristic concept prototypes.
Past the famous Friendship of Nations fountain, iconic Soviet cars take their rightful place along the green central avenue as retro exhibits, holding a special place in the hearts of visitors.
"This one brought back memories of my youth, this ZIS. At one time, it was even used as an ambulance," said Alexander Vasilyevich, an elderly man who was visiting with his wife, pointing at the car.
He hopes that the Russian car industry will overcome difficulties and develop soundly, and that domestically produced cars will become popular again among young people.
Designers pay close attention to the demands of nostalgic Russians, and presented new lines of Volga and Moskvitch, two of the most iconic Soviet brands, at the festival, attracting crowds of curious visitors.
"I believe that Russian manufacturing has a future, and a promising one," said Elena Bureeva, who saw the new Moskvitch models and felt quite content.
Bureeva said that she was inspired by the range of eco-friendly electric cars, which she believed are going to define the future.
"We need openness to technology. And talents, yes. We need to start cultivating talent already. Perhaps we should exchange educational systems to gain new knowledge," she said.
Her friend Aza cited Chinese automakers as a prime example of how learning from global peers can translate into high-quality, globally competitive products. "They learned and achieved great results, and I believe we can do the same."
In one of the lively side lanes, visitors stop by a large section of Chinese car manufacturers.
According to recent data from analytical agency Avtostat, nearly every fourteenth car in Russia belongs to a Chinese brand.
Geely, the brand that ranks third in popularity, presented its new hybrid model at the festival.
Sales manager Ilya Privezentsev said Geely is consistently working on quality. He noted Chinese cars are favored by Russian consumers for their cost efficiency and low maintenance costs.
"They launch a model, see how it performs. They run recall campaigns, refine the models. They perfect them and bring them to excellence, so to speak," he said.