The BRICS TimesThe leaders highlighted their close partnership with a ride in Russia’s flagship luxury vehicle on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in China
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew global attention on Monday when they shared a ride in the Russian-built Aurus Senat limousine after the main session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. The symbolic gesture underscored the growing closeness between Moscow and New Delhi, with both leaders choosing to travel together in the luxury state vehicle.
The Russian-made Aurus Senat carried the two heads of state from the summit venue to the hotel where their official bilateral discussions were scheduled. Modi later shared the moment on X, noting that the two leaders traveled together and remarking that his conversations with Putin are “always insightful.”
Before beginning their formal delegation-level talks, Putin and Modi held a private one-on-one discussion inside the Aurus, which lasted for about an hour. The vehicle, often referred to as a “fortress-on-wheels,” is a full-size, heavily armored luxury car designed for presidential use. Produced by Aurus Motors, the Senat represents a collaboration between NAMI, a Russian state research institute, the automaker Sollers, and the UAE’s Tawazun Holding.
Photographs and videos of the leaders inside the limousine quickly spread across social media platforms. On X in India and Weibo in China, thousands of users shared, liked, and commented on the posts, making the moment one of the most talked-about highlights of the summit.
The creation of the Aurus Senat was driven by Putin’s vision that Russia should manufacture its own presidential vehicles. He has personally used the limousine as his official car since 2018, while a limited number of models were made available to private buyers from 2021, according to Car Magazine.
Only 120 civilian versions of the Aurus Senat are produced each year, each priced at approximately 18 million rubles ($223,000). The car’s design draws inspiration from the Soviet-era ZIS-110, combining historical elegance with modern technology and security features.
In a notable gesture earlier this year, Putin also presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with an Aurus Senat during his visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, further enhancing the vehicle’s symbolism as a diplomatic tool as well as a state luxury product.
