AK-47 maker Kalashnikov to produce electric cars to rival Tesla

Russian defence business Kalashnikov has unveiled an electric car prototype which it said will rival cars produced by Tesla.

The company, which is best known for its AK-47 rifles, said that its CV-1 car will travel up to 217 miles on a single charge of its 90 kilowatt hour battery.

“This technology will let us stand in the ranks of global electric car producers such as Tesla and be their competitor”, a spokesman for Kalashnikov Concern said.

Kalashnikov’s electric car is modelled on a 1973 Soviet hatchback, the IZh 2125 "Kombi". No release date has been given for the car, which remains at the concept stage.

The prototype was unveiled at the Army-2018 Forum defence conference outside Moscow. Earlier...