Sollers begins UAZ production in Cuba
MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - The Russian automotive group Sollers has started the large-scale assembly of UAZ vehicles in Cuba, the company's press service said.
The project has been implemented by the Russian partner and UAZ distributor Echo-Export LLC in collaboration with the Cuban company EISA.
Modern assembly equipment has been installed at a factory located in the industrial zone of the Cuban capital Havana, and product quality control systems have been implemented, the press service said.
The first models to roll off the assembly line are the UAZ Patriot and Pickup, fully adapted to the climate and road conditions of the region. The vehicles are being assembled using the large-unit assembly method (DKD/SKD) from kits supplied by the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant.
The planned production volume at the first stage, after the plant reaches its designed capacity, will be up to 500 vehicles per year. The plant is expected to reach full capacity by September 2025. The maximum production volume when operating in three shifts will be 1,500 units per year. In the future, the model range is expected to expand, with particular emphasis on the commercial UAZ Profi. Technical oversight and quality control of the produced vehicles will be handled by representatives of Echo-Export LLC.
"Cuba is a historic partner of UAZ, and we are confident that consumers will appreciate the effectiveness and functionality of our uniquely Russian SUVs, which fully meet the needs of the Cuban market. Our regional distributor, Echo-Export LLC, has all the necessary competencies to monitor the efficiency of the assembly line, control quality and support customers," UAZ LLC's project manager for organizing assembly production in Cuba, Sergei Dorokhov was quoted as saying by the press service.
The company has established a system for servicing and supplying spare parts from the central warehouse in Havana, Echo-Export LLC Commercial Director Alexei Kivintsev said. "Our company is carrying out a phased certification of workshops and updating equipment to ensure high-quality service for customers across all regions of Cuba," he said.
Deepening cooperation with UAZ is a significant milestone in the development of Cuba's national industry, the CEO of EISA, Emilio Napoles Soto, said. "Our project helps reduce dependency on imports, while also setting a solid technological foundation and creating favorable conditions for knowledge transfer," he said.
As reported, Sollers' sales in the Russian market grew 9% in 2024, reaching 50,087 units, due to a 65.2% increase in sales of new commercial vehicles, totaling 14,112 units. In contrast, UAZ brand sales declined 3.8% to 35,975 units last year.
