Rusnano to help set up auto components development center in Tatarstan

KAZAN. Feb 28 (Interfax) - Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry, the government of Tatarstan and Rusnano Group have agreed to set up an R&D center to develop automobile components, an Interfax correspondent reported.

The trilateral agreement was signed Thursday by Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov, Tatarstan leader Rustam Minnikhanov and Rusnano Management Company chairman Dmitry Tarasov.

Under the agreement, a new R&D center will be opened at the Ideya technology park in Kazan to develop and test products for the auto industry, including body and running components, power electronics for vehicles and drive batteries for electric cars and trucks.

There are also plans to open a testing lab and a center to develop the competencies of engineers in the auto industry.

"Rusnano Group has unique competencies in the area of electrochemistry, telematics and mathematical modeling. We believe that new types of fuel will take a substantial share of the market in coming years. By our estimate, LNG will have 25% and hybrid or electric vehicles will have 25%. This is our focus and we're prepared to develop projects to introduce innovative technologies in the auto industry," Tarasov said in a Rusnano press release.

Alikhanov said the "creation of a full-fledged domestic component base is a key objective and a must for the further development of the auto industry."

The minister participated in a meeting of the coordinating council for industry in Kazan on Thursday that was devoted to the development of the auto components industry.