The Maker of the AK-47 Is Entering the Electric Car Market | Hacker News Reader

The Maker of the AK-47 Is Entering the Electric Car Market

bloomberg.com

77 pointsIbethewalrus94 comments

There's so much wrong with this car there's absolutely no way it goes to market.

It's a publicity stunt or a one off modified car for brand awareness. Not a production model.

It's an old car with some cheap eBay headlights stick on (I had those lights on a modified motorcycle I built up), cheap aftermarket wheels, dumped suspension so low the front wheels won't turn. It has the original mechanical door handles, front end fab work is atrocious and nothing lines up right.

Just like SEMA cars, this was just made to provide some pretty photos and spread some PR.

Are those front tyres even on the right way, they look backwards?

Those look like symmetric tires to me, not directional tires.

>There's so much wrong with this car there's absolutely no way it goes to market.

You've obviously are not familiar with a long and proud history of communist-made vehicles just like that that served their "market" for decades (e.g. the Trabant)...

If the car is affordable and reliable, why wouldn't it go to market? Mechanical door handles, sure they aren't pretty, but they can be maintained by anyone with basic tools.

Not every electric car needs to be shiny and expensive.

Soviet cars were "reliable" in the sense that yes, they broke down very often and in predictable ways, so that most people could fix them.

In a, perhaps hypocritical, way I would find this preferable to some of the Tesla stories where a buyer can't use their car for months on end while parts are sourced and the car is repaired by a "certified" shop.

I find it far preferable to the car manufacturer shutting you out of your car entirely via a remote call.

I have a Tesla, my dad had a Moskvitch.

I find a lot of people like to make dramatic comparisons (like you just did) when they don't even have the option of acting on their supposed preferences. I doubt you even understand what life would be like with the pile of shit that soviet cars were.

What about something in between like a Toyota Camry? Very reliable and easy to get repaired if needed?

That's not in between though, it's on the opposite end of 2 different axes.

WRT "easy to repair":

It seems Toyota has been adding proprietary electronic crap to their entry level cars just like every other manufacturer. Even their entry level models.

IMHO the days of easy repairs are going away :(

I also had the stuck accelerator thing recently. So no more Toyotas for me.

Not just Tesla, got a "Drive System Malfunction" error on my Audi. Been in the shop 4+ weeks now. After much testing, nothing wrong with the drive system, but a wire that is dropping voltage somewhere.

Stuff has just gotten way too complicated. It's more than right to repair, it's ability or ease of repair that counts more as a practical matter.

They broke down in predictable way because they did so little. If the Soviets had made really complex cars they would have failed in very unpredictable ways as well.

Another big advantage is that there were not very many models of car available, so everyone who know how to fix cars knew how to fix your car.

Good point.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-autoshow-china-electr... here it says that Chinese companies are producing cheap electric cars for their home market - maybe not as cool as Tesla, but way cheaper.

Definitely. Keep in mind they also recently unveiled this gem: https://taskandpurpose.com/kalashnikov-killer-robot-russia/

Publicity stunt for sure, and probably just trying to show they’re building something other than another slight mod on the AK-47 while flooded with oligarch lucre.

One thing's for sure, they definitely aren't trying to win any design awards.

Also, in the second photo here you can see what seems to be a drive shaft. An odd detail for an electric car.

https://imgur.com/a/RYS7h0i

Could be a single electric motor driving the 2 wheels through a differential.

This site has pictures of 2 motors that would fit in in the transmission tunnel, leading me to believe they would attach to a traditional drive shaft. http://www.nedra.com/build.html

Cursory search didn't bring up any undercarriage images to prove my theory.

This is a concept, I'm not sure the engineering for 4 motors to work in unison is as easy as using some conventional drivetrain stuff and just swapping the power plant 1:1.

I don't know. The Lada Niva is still going strong and outperforms many modern 4x4s and can be purchased new for under $10k USD. This might actually be a good strategy to get cheap reliable electric transportation to the people. Not everyone needs or can afford a self-crashing Tesla.

> can be purchased new for under $10k USD

Certainly not in the US. If I'm wrong in that assertion, please let me know, because I'd be very tempted to buy one.

No, but it's available in a few European countries. I'm living in Russia now and am tempted to buy one. The funny thing is, "new-rich" Russians try their hardest to make an impression and opt for less capable Mercedes and BMWs which the roads just eat alive.

I think a cursory investigation will show this is more likely just the company trying to show something to correspond to the large capital injection it is about to receive from "investors" / cronies. (speculation, but look at that thing ...)

This is the only plausible explanation to me as well.

They also make a next-gen tank that doesn't go under its own power[1], a next-gen fighter that nobody wants[2] and a nuclear-powered missile with a reactor that never starts[3]. Not to mention conventional cars that people are happy to ditch as soon as they save enough money for a used foreign one.

I wouldn't worry if I were Tesla.

[1]https://www.smh.com.au/world/russias-t14-armata-tank-breaks-...

[2]http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20347/its-no-surprise-i...

[3]https://taskandpurpose.com/russia-lost-nuclear-cruise-missil...

Following the fine tradition of such companies as British Small Arms, or as your granddad knew them, BSA: maker of fine British motorcycles.

Er, wait. BSA went out of business. Not a great precedent for those wishing to transition from firearms to motor vehicles. And from the looks of that thing, they'll follow BSA's trail right to the end.

Husqvarna and Saab are two good examples of weapons companies making motor vehicles. I'm not saying Kalashnikov Concern will or won't follow that path though.

Well, Saab still at least makes military equipment.

Husqvarna? TIL that their logo is a gun sight. :-)

One of the treadle sewing machines here in the house comes from 'Husqvarna Vapenfabriks (armament factory) Aktiebolag (incorporated company)'. Armament factories often entered other fine-mechanical fields, most likely because they could use the skills learned in designing and producing weapons elsewhere as well as to provide a steady stream of income which was not as dependent on the winds of war.

Skoda and Porsche come to mind. I bet most heavy industry has done a stint in both depending on which way the wind was blowing.

Well, Saab was closed (their car manufacturing operation) then was re-bought, re-closed and now makes EV's with the NEVS brand (or maybe not):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Automobile

https://electrek.co/2018/04/11/didi-massive-electric-car-nev...

It goes the other way, too. I have a rifle (an M1 Carbine) made by General Motors.

Nothing screams quality like designing your car along the lines of some of the worst cars ever produced.

Maybe the goal, just like with AK-47, is to kill a lot of people.

I love it, finish aside. Contemporary car design leaves me cold. I'd much prefer a return to the boxy style of the 80s, or this slightly curved box style of the 70s (yes yes I know, safety regs etc prevent it...)

Agreed. Personally, I think car design peaked with the Volvo 240.

It's just so majestic. Especially in bright colors like orange.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/19...

Taste is very subjective. I'm glad they don't make cars like that Volvo anymore, it's probably the ugliest looking thing I've ever seen.

I really liked a Honda Accord design that I saw several years ago on the road. No picture though.

It's not particularly hard to make an electric car (there are plenty of DIY projects).

It is, however, extremely hard to make an electric car that's safe, ergonomic, attractive - and also performs well.

As much as I admire the original AK-47 design, I don't believe the firm is capable of making electric cars. Or robots.

https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-45282805

>The Maker of the AK-47

Should be "A" maker of the AK-47. The AK-47 is an open design and anyone can make it. I know there was an attempt to trademark the name a few years ago, but there's still lots of companies using the name.

To be fair, though, Kalashnikov Concern, formerly IzhMash, is the canonical descendant of the AK heritage.

Other factories in ex-Soviet Union have technical documentation and the right to produce AK of different modifications.

And no-one in former-USSR and its successors has made a '47 since the AKM replaced it in 1959.

Yugoslavia continued with the original design for some time but most other armies were keen on the 1kg weight reduction of the new model.

AK is that it is already produced in large quantities and is in big numbers in ex-Soviet Union republic military warehouses. Just no need to produce additional ones.

No doubt you'll be able to buy cheap knock-offs in certain 3rd world street markets and bazaars within a month.

Mass production of electric car components wouldn't be such a bad thing..

Agreed, if they do it right. The big risk is that many knock-off electronics use questionable components and methodologies that can lead to fires when you mix that with the level of current needed for an electric car.

Fun fact. This electrocar is based on Moskvich 412. Which was already knock-off of opel cadet.

https://i1.wp.com/neznal.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/msk-4...

It's recursive Soviet iterations of a one copy of a shitty European car all the way down bro.

"The IZh 2125 "Kombi" (Russian: ИЖ-2125 Комби, short for "combination") is a compact car produced by the Soviet car manufacturer IZh from 1973 to 1997.[1] It was based on an Izhevsk-modified Moskvitch 412..."

My first thought was - why not go one step further and put a modern battery in an original electric vehicle from the 1970s like the Enfield 800 [0]? Then on reading the Enfield 800 wikipedia page I find there's a hobbyist doing just that [1].

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield_8000

[1] http://www.flux-capacitor.co.uk

After being profiled about this car on Robert Llewellyn's Fully Charged (YouTube show) [0][1], Johnny Smith eventually joined Fully Charged as a regular co-host, and his enthusiasm for both classic electric and modern electric cars is infectious, and fun to watch.

[0] http://www.fullychargedshow.co.uk/ [1] https://www.youtube.com/user/fullychargedshow

I expect it to be reliable electric car with plenty clearance between any kind of moving parts, and that the electric motor never jams. But if it does jam (which it will), it must be easy to take a part with a 10mm wrench.

It'll be half the price of the fancy American version, it'll be repairable in a cave with nothing more than basic welding equipment and every single country will make their own slightly modified version of it.

No one can ever find 10mm when they need it. It'll come with a stamped steel armorer's multi-tool that will include a 10mm box wrench on one end.

That made me laugh. And I was just looking for my 10mm in the garage. I found a 9mm, a 11mm, a 12mm, a 13mm, but no 10mm. I think someone borrowed it.

My uncle in the 80s had the same car, with all the same craftsmanship, including door handles etc. The only thing new in this design are the front lights, and you can see they are of pretty low quality, crooked lines etc. This would be one of the state funded projects, where most of money will be stolen, again.

In this article: “...CV-1 on a 1970s Soviet hatchback, the IZh 2125 "Kombi"...” I would say, it’s bigger challenge for them to create modern car, than an electric one.

I don't know.. that chassis is the best looking thing on this car... can I just get that with a regular combustion engine and without the shitty headlight kit?

I know the guy who knows the guy that sells Cold War era vehicles to the western countries. Personally I wouldn’t buy it. And it might be expensive, because it’s old and rare.

Was just reading about this "retro-mod" of a GAZ Volga that cost $500,000

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/volga-v-12-coupe

I love the front of this thing but the back is absolutely hideous [1]. I'd be vying for one if it was a flat hatchback.

1. https://images.carscoops.com/2018/08/cbfacc26-kalashnikov-cv...

I like it. I'm a big fan of cars that look very unique, even if they are also hideous.

Here is a non-amp link... it loads much faster for me: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-24/kalashnik...

This seems like a ploy to confuse people who like to filter their investment decisions through a political lens.

Looks like the good old Lada 2105

It's Izh Kombi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izh_2125

Lada 2105 is a derivative of Fiat 124. This Izh is a pure Soviet creation (based on Moskvitch model).

Izh based on Moskvich 412. Which is derivative of Opel Kadett B.

Moskvitch 400 was based on Opel Kadett. Moskvitch 408, and then 412, were not.

Just because they make the AK-47, doesn't mean they know anything about mechanical innovation or even vehicular engineering. They definitely don't know anything about marketing from the look of the car.

They're trying to tap into the Soviet nostalgia that's surprisingly prevalent in Russia.

It is just Russian propaganda for internal use as with Russian Operating System, Russian smartphone and Russian tablet.

Even AK-47 is not solely Soviet innovation.

Nope, not entirely. There are lots of stories that credit Hugo Schmeisser for at least part of the mechanism.

More importantly, the Soviets developed the tactics around the use of light automatic weapons by infantry squads.

The car doesn't particularly aerodynamic. Why would someone waste that much energy nowadays?

If you're driving mostly city streets with heavy traffic, I don't think aerodynamics is a big concern. But mostly I'm sure it's just a non-functional design meant to grab headlines.

Do I get to be a Bond villain if I buy one?

Builds smartphone from Adafruit parts.

This baby's gonna give Apple a run for their money!

Non-AMP version: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-24/kalashnik...

Thanks, updated!

It’s a gag car. Bloomberg should know better.

I have never seen anything with "Made in Russia" on it. What happens when nobody wants their oil?

They lease you land.

But I really can't think of anything produced in Russia besides weapons, rockets, and nuclear powerplants.

My country is full of Russian machinery equipment (lathes etc.), as a result of clearing trade during the cold war. Not as precise as the Western stuff at the time, but usable. And, well, we've got em' by the ton..

About 50% of Russia's exports are oil-based, but they also export a significant amount materials from mining and logging, as well as food and refined chemicals.

See the Exports chart here: https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/rus/

where do you live? obviously you wouldn't see any russian things in US for many reasons...

Why not? You see US and Chinese products in Russia and Ukraine, why not vice-versa? "But the dollar is so expensive", etc is not a legitimate argument.

Russians buy American cars, tools, etc.

What does this have to do with anything? My point is if you don’t have russian products in the US (for whatever reasons) this doesn’t mean other people don’t have russian products

They are some of the only people still making sidecar motorcycles. Not the greatest quality, but fun to drive.

https://www.imz-ural.com/

I recently came across replacement electron tubes for guitar amplifiers that were "Made in Russia" by a company of the name Sovtek.

Seems like Sovtek is part of a US cooperation (New Sensor) these days. The tubes are still "Made in Russia", though.

“Russia is the 16th largest export economy in the world. In 2016, Russia exported $269B and imported $180B, resulting in a positive trade balance of $88.6B. In 2016 the GDP of Russia was $1.28T and its GDP per capita was $24.8k.”

Take a look at the composition of the export. What part of it high tech?

See Venezuela. Except with nuclear weapons.

They'll collapse into a 3rd world country unless they modernize and diversify their economy.

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