PARIS — Stellantis will start exporting industrial vans to Europe from its manufacturing unit in Kaluga, Russia, to satisfy elevated demand.

Exports will begin with three midsize sibling fashions, the Peugeot Knowledgeable, the Opel Vivaro and the Citroen Jumpy. Shipments are  deliberate to start out in February.

The vans produced in Russia would add to these made in Stelllantis crops in France and the UK amid rising demand for industrial automobiles, particularly as dwelling supply companies have boomed in the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stellantis stated in a launch Tuesday that manufacturing on the Kaluga manufacturing unit doubled in 2021 in contrast with 2020.

The Kaluga manufacturing unit, which has an annual capability of 125,000 automobiles, is turning into a world export hub for Stellantis, and has added new packages prior to now yr.

They together with plans to construct the brand new Fiat Scudo (a model of the Peugeot, Citroen and Opel vans) for export on the finish of 2022; manufacturing of diesel engines and guide transmissions for export; and the manufacturing of compact vans for various Stellantis manufacturers.

The manufacturing unit, a three way partnership with Mitsubishi, started constructing vans in 2017 for the previous PSA Group, which merged with Fiat Chrysler to type Stellantis.

It builds the Outlander and Pajero fashions for Mitsubishi.

Kaluga, about 180 km southwest of Moscow, has develop into a middle of the Russian auto trade. Volkswagen Group opened an meeting plant there in 2007, as did Volvo vans. Outstanding suppliers within the space embody Continental, Magna Worldwide and Visteon.

The U.S. authorities has threatened wide-ranging sanctions to discourage Russia from invading Ukraine – a transfer Moscow denies — probably blocking the nation’s entry to international digital provides, together with for the auto trade.

Reuters contributed to this report