Russia to take over Renault’s Moscow factory to revive Soviet-era car

French carmaker joins other western firms leaving Russian market, with option to return within six years

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

The Moscow city government is to take over a factory belonging to the French carmaker Renault and use it to revive the Soviet-era Moskvitch in Russia's first major nationalisation of a foreign company during its war in Ukraine.

The development, which was met with ridicule by Russians with long memories, follows Renault's decision to join the wave of western companies such as McDonald's and Siemens leaving the Russian market as the war in Ukraine nears its fourth month.