aurus

A brief history about aurus: In the former U.S.S.R., ZIL was the go-to limousine for top-ranking members of the Russian Communist Party. These massive, state-built vehicles were a symbol of power and exclusivity. But after the fall of the Soviet Union, the old ZILs were only brought out for special occasions involving the Russian president. Eventually, it became clear that the aging fleet needed a replacement, leading to the birth of the Cortage (Motorcade) project.

The name Aurus was inspired by a mix of “Au” (the chemical symbol for gold) and “Rus” (short for Russia). The journey to create a new state vehicle began with a design competition called "A Car for the President," launched by Marussia Motors (a Russian sports carmaker) and NAMI (The State Research Center of the Russian Federation). The early designs blended classic ZIL elements with a Chrysler 300C vibe, but the concept was refined over time.

The Aurus project evolved into an ambitious plan: developing a new platform that could support a sedan, a limousine, an SUV, and even a minivan. These vehicles would serve Russia’s State Duma (parliament) and security services. However, ZIL was no longer in the business of making passenger cars, having focused exclusively on trucks for nearly a decade. A fresh start was needed.

With some engineering support from Porsche, a final platform was developed. Aurus’ head designer, Yuri Chernenko, led the styling process, drawing inspiration from the 1945 ZIS-110, a Soviet limousine based on the American Packard. NAMI also brought in Vadim Pereverzev, a former FIAT designer with 15 years of experience, to oversee the project.

For production, NAMI turned to Sollers, a factory specializing in vehicle manufacturing, to set up assembly lines. By 2013, the project was in full swing, with a primary focus on the limousine and minivan models. The SUV project was put on hold, but plans for a crossover based on the same EMP platform as the Senat sedan and Arsenal MPV were already in motion.

In 2017, after years of development, the first Aurus limousine was tested by the Russian president. Shortly after, the Russian Federal Security Service placed an order for 16 vehicles. Since mass production facilities weren’t ready yet, NAMI hand-built 14 units by the end of the year. In May 2018, President Vladimir Putin arrived at his inauguration in a Senat Limousine, marking Aurus' official debut on the world stage.

On May 23, 2018, Aurus was officially launched as a brand in Moscow, marking a new era for Russian luxury cars. That same year, Tawazun, an investment company from the United Arab Emirates, became the first major investor, putting €110 million into the project. By early 2019, Aurus LLC’s ownership was structured as follows: NAMI held 63%, Sollers had 0.5%, and Tawazun owned the remaining 35.5%. Production was set to take place in Alabuga.

In March 2019, Aurus unveiled its luxury vehicles, the Senat S600 sedan and the L700 Limousine, at the Geneva International Motor Show. The brand attracted major attention for its size, opulence, and state-of-the-art features developed by NAMI. However, Aurus soon faced legal challenges from Toyota (over similarities to the Auris name), Michelin (Taurus tire brand), and Lamborghini (Urus SUV). Lamborghini later withdrew its claim.

Beyond luxury cars, Aurus expanded into other high-end transportation projects, including custom-made helicopters and even an electric motorcycle. As Russia’s first homegrown luxury automotive brand, Aurus continues to carve its place in the global market.

Current Models

Browse through this aurus’s current models below and explore their specifications