Russia Has Built Its Own Cybertruck — Well… Every Country Gets the Vehicles It Deserves

An unusual vehicle was recently spotted in rural Russia. It’s a van bearing the name of the long-defunct Russo-Balt brand, and stylistically it bears a striking resemblance to Tesla’s polarizing Cybertruck.

There’s no official information about the vehicle. Judging by the lettering on its body, it’s an electric vehicle. Notably, in August of last year, a businessman from the city of Perm patented the Russo-Balt brand name in the vehicle category.

Originally, Russo-Balt automobileswere produced in Imperial Russia between 1909 and 1918. Several hundred passenger cars and trucks were built during that period. There have been multiple attempts to revive the historic brand in modern times, but none have ever progressed to real, road-ready vehicles — let alone mass production.

A bit of background: the Russo-Balt brand has deep historical roots. Its story began in 1869 at the Russo-Baltic Wagon Factory in Riga. The company’s chief designer was Swiss engineer Julien Potter, and the prototype for the first Russo-Balt automobile was based on a Belgian Fondue vehicle.

Historically, the brand’s most widely produced model was a car measuring about 14 feet in length, with a top speed of roughly 43 mph. Around 350 units were built. These vehicles saw use both in the Imperial Russian Army and in motorsport events. One even reportedly took part in a race in Monte Carlo — although detailed records of that appearance are hard to come by.