Chinese carmakers have grabbed more than half of Russia's car market in terms of sales since most Western counterparts abandoned the country following Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Chery said in a written statement it supplies the Russian market with passenger cars, but does not plan to build or buy its own factories there.
Chery and Russia are keen to minimise publicity about the production in Russia, one of the sources said.
Mikhail Pogonov, brand manager for new Chery cars at the ASC Group dealership near Moscow, said Chery models were already being assembled in Kaluga, specifically Tiggo crossovers, overseen by Chery engineers.
In a showroom with Tiggo 7 models on display, he told Reuters that he sold 142 Chery cars in September, more than double the total in October 2023.

Exclusive-China's Chery assembles cars in Russian plants vacated by Western rivals