Chemezov promises Putin to finish work on Kortezh motorcycle soon
SOCHI. May 17 (Interfax) - The Kortezh project's motorcycle is almost ready, Rostec state corporation's chief Sergei Chemezov told President Vladimir Putin.
"By the way, we also prepared a motorcycle which was supposed to accompany your cortege but unfortunately we could not finish it on time. It had already gone through practically every test, very few were left," Chemezov told Putin at their meeting on Thursday.
"The motorcycle turned out very beautiful," he said.
Its characteristics are not inferior to those of western counterparts, Chemezov said.
"We need it to be better," Putin said.
"It will be," Chemezov said.
It was reported that on his inauguration day on May 7, Putin travelled a few hundred meters between the Kremlin's first building and grand palace in a new, Kortezh, limousine.
The Kortezh project has been implemented since 2012 at the president's behest, with the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (NAMI) providing the designs. The model range includes four classes of vehicles: a sedan, an offroader, a minivan and a limousine.
Kortezh vehicles will go on sale in the first quarter of 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said. "The introduced family of luxury class vehicles will enter the open market under its own Aurus brand and will be presented to the wide public at the Moscow international car show 2018".