Major Chinese automaker could help build plant in Moscow Region or Siberia - Rostec head

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - One of the major Chinese automakers could assist in building a new auto plant in the Moscow region or in Siberia, Rostec state corporation head Sergei Chemezov said.

"We recently returned from a business trip to China, where we visited the plant of a major automobile manufacturer. There is very advanced production with over one thousand robots and nearly no people in the workshops. We agreed with them that we would try to build a similar plant somewhere here, maybe in the Moscow Region or in Siberia. They are ready to help us," Chemezov told MAI students on Friday as part of the fifth all-Russia Scientific and Technical Development and the Tasks of Global Leadership forum.

Chemezov did not provide any details about the project's plans.

The only Chinese automaker that is highly localized in Russia now is Great Wall, which manufactures Haval cars at its own plant in the Tula Region as part of a special investment contract (SPIC) with Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry. The company recently announced plans to expand its capacity from 150,000 to 200,000 cars per year.