Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in New Delhi on Thursday, December 4, 2025, for a two-day state visit. This marks his first trip to India in four years. And, as always, he will make a grand entrance in style, aboard his iconic Aurus Senat Limousine, Russia’s official presidential car.
The Aurus Senat is no ordinary luxury car. It is a stretched, heavily armoured limousine designed by Aurus Motors in Moscow. Inspired by the Soviet-era ZIS-110, the Senat combines classic limousine elegance with modern protection, making it extremely difficult to damage. Under the hood, it features a 4.4-litre V8 engine producing 598 bhp and 880 Nm of torque. For occasions that demand extra power, a V12 version with 850 bhp is also available.
The car has previously made headlines internationally. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, PM Narendra Modi and Putin reportedly spent over an hour inside the Senat, possibly discussing geopolitics. In 2024, Putin gifted two Senats to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Aurus Motors, the company behind this limousine, is relatively new. Founded in 2018 as a state limousine manufacturer, it opened to the public in 2021. Today, its ultra-luxury cars are owned by a few world leaders, including Turkmenistan’s Serdar and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
During his two-day visit, Putin and Prime Minister Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions as part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. While the agenda focuses on diplomacy and bilateral cooperation, car enthusiasts will be excited to catch a glimpse of the Aurus Senat on Indian roads. With its imposing design and unmatched luxury, the Senat is a car that makes even the most expensive luxury vehicles seem modest in comparison.
Putin’s arrival in the Aurus Senat is set to be one of the most talked-about sights of his visit to India.
Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
