Sollers, Mazda JV eligible to sell cars to state - Industry and Trade Ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - The joint venture between Sollers and Mazda, Mazda Sollers Manufacturing Rus LLC, has received the right to participate in state and municipal purchases, a representative of the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry told Interfax.
The JV received that right following publication of a January 31 Russian government resolution (N84) which amends the list of foreign-made vehicles that are ineligible to participate in state and municipal purchases.
An Economic Development Ministry representative told Interfax that the resolution mainly contains technical amendments to the earlier resolution (N656 dated July 14, 2014). It also allows the purchase of cars for state and municipal needs in Armenia and establishes the ability to purchase cars from Russian enterprises founded after 2010.
Mazda Sollers Manufacturing Rus is a joint venture between Mazda Motor Corporation and Sollers that manufactures the Mazda CX-5 crossover and the Mazda 6 sedan. The venture opened its plant in Vladivostok in September 2012.
"This is a vital, long-awaited decision for us," a representative of the joint venture told Interfax. "We are pleased that this change was made now, during a period of falling demand on the market and declining retail sales. The opportunity to participate in state purchases constitutes substantial anticrisis assistance," a company representative told Interfax.
"We believe that this will give new impetus to the import-substitution production of vehicles in Russia," Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said.
The changes mainly involve construction vehicles, vehicles used in developing subsurface resources, public service vehicles and other transportation equipment manufactured in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), including Armenia, which joined the union this year.
"A major innovation in the resolution is the expanded access of cars to the state purchases. Now absolutely all holders of industrial assembly agreements have the right to via for state orders, which will serve as a further incentive for foreign producers to localize their production to Russia," Manturov said.