Written by Aurus Motors
Aurus Motors is a Russian luxury car brand that grew out of the Kortezh state-car project run by the NAMI research institute. In this guide you’ll find the Senat, Komendant and Arsenal, as well as how the brand started, who owns it and its one trip to Le Mans.
Aurus Motors at a Glance
Founded 2018 Aurus LLC set up at the end of 2017
Headquarters Moscow, Russia Sales company Aurus Motors
Main plant Yelabuga, Tatarstan Series production since 2021
Owners Gazprom unit and NAMI Gazprom unit holds 51%, since 2025
Leadership Andrei Boginsky CEO since September 2025
Engine 4.4-liter V8 hybrid 598 PS, co-developed with Porsche Engineering
Aurus Motors Model Lineup
Aurus Motors builds a small range of very large luxury cars, and most of them share the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid. In addition, the Hongqi-based Senat 900 joined the range in June 2026, with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 and a much lower price.
Sedans and limousines (2)
Luxury sedan
Senat
V8 hybrid 598 PS
The Senat S600 is 5,630 mm long, and it weighs about 2,700 kg. Its twin-turbo V8 works with an electric motor in the nine-speed automatic, so you get 598 PS, 880 Nm and all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, a restyled version was shown in June 2026.
Limousine
Senat Limousine
V8 hybrid 4,300 mm wheelbase
The Senat Limousine L700 stretches to about 6,620 mm, with a 4,300 mm wheelbase. In fact, it was the first Aurus seen in public, at the presidential inauguration in May 2018, and armored versions weigh about 6,200 kg.
SUVs and vans (2)
Luxury SUV
Komendant
V8 hybrid 0–100 km/h in 6.5 s
The Komendant was unveiled on September 30, 2022, and series production at Yelabuga was announced that November. It uses the same V8 hybrid, so it reaches 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and 220 km/h flat out.
Luxury minivan
Arsenal
V8 hybrid About 4,950 kg
The Arsenal is a 5,980 mm minivan that joined the Kortezh family in 2018. It uses the same V8 hybrid, while an armored version is also built.
What Is Aurus Motors?
Aurus Motors grew out of the Kortezh project, which the NAMI institute started in 2013 to replace the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Pullman Guard as Russia’s state car. Then the Senat Limousine made its debut at the presidential inauguration on May 7, 2018.
Later in 2018, the Aurus brand was presented at the Moscow International Auto Show, and in March 2019 it went to the Geneva Motor Show. The name blends aurum, Latin for gold, with Rus.
Series production started at Yelabuga in Tatarstan on May 31, 2021. However, volumes are small: about 250 Senats had been built by the end of 2024. Finally, a Gazprom unit bought 51% of the company in 2025.
Aurus Motors History
Aurus Motors has a short history, so these are the key steps from the state-car program to today.
- 2013 NAMI begins the Kortezh state-car program.
- 2017 Aurus LLC is set up, owned 75% by NAMI and 25% by Sollers.
- 2018 Then the Senat Limousine debuts on May 7, and the Aurus brand is presented in August.
- 2019 In February, Tawazun of the UAE agrees to invest 110 million euros for 36%.
- 2019 The Senat and Senat Limousine debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
- 2019 Meanwhile, the Aurus 01 race car runs at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
- 2021 Series production starts at Yelabuga on May 31.
- 2021 By December, cars have been delivered to the UAE, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.
- 2022 The Komendant SUV is unveiled on September 30.
- 2024 Later, the Merlon electric motorcycle opens for pre-orders.
- 2025 A Gazprom unit takes 51%, and Andrei Boginsky becomes CEO.
- 2026 Finally, the restyled Senat and the Senat 900 are presented in June.
Who Owns Aurus Motors?
Aurus Motors is majority owned by a Gazprom unit, which bought 51% in 2025, while the NAMI institute holds most of the rest. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Main owner Gazprom unit 51%, since 2025
This page Aurus Motors Russia
Plant Yelabuga, Tatarstan Series production since 2021
Plant Shushary, St. Petersburg Senat 900, since 2026
Partner NAMI Engineering and minority owner
Partner Sollers Body welding and paint
Related brands
These brands are linked to the Aurus story.
For example, Porsche Engineering helped develop the V8, while critics often compare the Senat’s styling with Rolls-Royce. In fact, Aurus says the design draws on the Soviet ZIS-110.
Earlier history
- Sollers (2017–2024) Sollers owned 25% at the start, later 0.5%, which it sold in April 2024.
- Tawazun (2019–2025) The UAE fund held 36% and was the distributor for the Middle East and North Africa.
- NAMI pilot plant The first small batches were built at NAMI in Moscow, before Yelabuga took over.
Aurus Motors Accomplishments
The record of Aurus Motors is short, because the brand is young and builds cars in small numbers.
2018
State car
The Senat Limousine has been Russia’s presidential state car since May 2018.
598 PS
V8 hybrid
The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid makes 598 PS and 880 Nm.
250
Senats by 2024
About 250 Senats had been built by the end of 2024, roughly 120 a year.
3
Export markets by 2021
By December 2021, Aurus cars had gone to the UAE, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.
11th
Le Mans 2019
In addition, the Aurus 01 finished 11th overall at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans.
250 km/h
Senat top speed
Similarly, the Senat is limited to 250 km/h.
Aurus Racing History
Aurus Motors has one racing entry to its name. In 2019, G-Drive Racing ran its Oreca 07-based LMP2 car as the Aurus 01-Gibson, so the brand appeared at the biggest endurance race of all.
24 Hours of Le Mans 2019
Aurus 01 at Le Mans
LMP2 11th overall
Roman Rusinov, Job van Uitert and Jean-Eric Vergne drove the number 26 car. As a result, it finished 11th overall and 6th in LMP2. However, it was a rebadged Oreca with a Gibson engine, not a car Aurus engineered.
Talk Aurus With Other Fans
When you’re into big luxury cars, you’ll have plenty to talk about, whether it’s the Senat, the Komendant or the Le Mans car. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a community space where you can swap facts, compare luxury brands and plan meetups.
- Senat
- Senat Limousine
- Komendant
- Arsenal
- Senat 900
- V8 hybrid
- Le Mans 2019
- Luxury car comparisons
Aurus Motors FAQ
Who makes Aurus cars?
Aurus cars are made by Aurus LLC, which grew out of NAMI’s Kortezh project. Since 2025, a Gazprom unit has owned 51% of Aurus Motors, while NAMI holds most of the rest.
Where are Aurus cars built?
Aurus Motors builds its cars in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, where series production started in 2021. However, the Senat 900 is built at a former Toyota plant near St. Petersburg.
What engine does the Aurus Senat use?
The Senat uses a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor, making 598 PS and 880 Nm, and it was co-developed with Porsche Engineering.
How much does an Aurus Senat cost?
At launch in 2021, the Senat started at 18 million rubles. Later, the Hongqi-based Senat 900 arrived in 2026 at 12 million rubles.
Is Aurus based on Rolls-Royce?
No. The Senat sits on NAMI’s own platform, although its styling is often compared with Rolls-Royce. The Senat 900, on the other hand, is based on the Hongqi H9.
Has Aurus raced?
Yes, once. For example, G-Drive Racing ran an LMP2 car as the Aurus 01 at the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, and it finished 11th overall.
Explore More Manufacturers
Finally, compare Aurus Motors with other Russian makers and luxury brands.
Photo credits
- Header image: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black Aurus Senat at the 2019 Geneva…: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black Aurus Senat Limousine at a Moscow…: Retired electrician, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Black Aurus Komendant SUV on display in…: Retired electrician, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Black Aurus Arsenal minivan on a Moscow…: Sealle, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- G-Drive Racing Aurus 01-Gibson number 26 at…: David Merrett, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.