New addition to the Tenet model range: business saloon A8 preparing for its Russian debut

Production of the four-door model will be set up using full-cycle technology at the factory in Shushary, which is owned by the AGR holding company.

The 'local' brand named Tenet appeared on the Russian market in February 2025. This project is the result of a partnership between the AGR holding company and the Chinese company Defetoo. To date, the model line-up includes four crossovers – the T4, T4L, T7 and T8 – with production established at the plant in Grabtsovo near Kaluga (previously owned by the Volkswagen Group). Today, the company has officially announced a new model in a different segment, namely the Tenet A8 business saloon (pictured in the main image).

Like other models from the young Russian marque, the Tenet A8 is a 'twin' of a model from the Chinese brand Chery: it is a saloon that has been sold in its home market since spring 2025 under the name Arrizo 8 Pro, with its sporty version following from June of the same year. It is worth noting that in the Russian Chery line-up, only the pre-facelift version of the Arrizo 8 is currently available, which first appeared in Russia back in 2023.

As reported by the press service of the local marque, production of the Tenet A8 will be set up using full-cycle technology at the factory in Shushary (St Petersburg), which is currently owned by the AGR holding company, having previously been owned by the GM Group and then Hyundai. The overall length of the upcoming new model is 4,757 mm, the width is 1,832 mm, the height is 1,469 mm, and the wheelbase is 2,770 mm. For comparison, the current Kia K5 business saloon has a length of 4,905 mm and a wheelbase of 2,850 mm.

The Tenet four-door features a sloping bonnet and roofline, an octagonal radiator grille with a mesh pattern, a chrome surround and horizontal slats. The model also gets swept-back LED headlights, a trapezoidal central air intake and a pair of air ducts on either side. The A8 features conventional door handles and exterior mirrors, chrome inserts along the flanks, and 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, behind which red brake calipers can be seen. The rear is adorned with a full-width light bar.

The Tenet A8 comes with a panoramic roof, ambient interior lighting, Sony audio, a climate control system with physical buttons and separate vents for second-row passengers, who also get USB ports and a central armrest with a storage compartment for small items. The dashboard houses a pair of displays – a 10.25-inch virtual instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. The model features anatomically shaped front seats for the driver and passenger with contrast stitching, ventilation and memory settings.

The business saloon will be offered on the Russian market with two engine options – 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre units. As the company has stated, the 'larger' turbocharged engine delivers 197 bhp, with peak torque of 375 Nm. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The four-door takes 9 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h. The A8's winter package includes: heated seats for all occupants and the steering wheel, plus a heated windscreen and washer jets.

Information on trim levels, pricing and the exact launch date will be announced by the company at a later stage.