After a two-year hiatus prompted by geopolitical tensions and sanctions, South Korean automotive giant Hyundai is signaling a potential comeback in Russia. This development has sparked renewed speculation over whether major international corporations that exited the Russian market amid the Ukraine conflict are now reassessing their strategies in light of shifting business and geopolitical dynamics.

In a move that has caught the attention of market watchers and policy analysts alike, Hyundai has reportedly registered at least eight new trademarks with Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property, commonly known as Rospatent, as of April 2025. This revelation, first reported by Russian state news agency TASS, suggests that the automaker could be laying the groundwork for a reentry into one of its formerly most profitable foreign markets.

Hyundai suspended operations in Russia in March 2022, shortly after the onset of the Ukraine conflict. The company cited logistical disruptions and mounting difficulties in securing components, a problem compounded by sweeping Western sanctions targeting Moscow. At the time, Hyundai was among the top three best-selling auto brands in the country, along with its affiliate, Kia Motors. Their withdrawal mirrored a broader corporate exodus of Western and allied companies facing growing legal and reputational risks.

In December 2023, Hyundai officially sold its Russian assets-including a major manufacturing plant in St. Petersburg-for a symbolic sum of 10,000 rubles (approximately $123). However, crucially, the deal........

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