Renault plans to produce new model auto in Izhevsk
IZHEVSK. May 22 (Interfax) - Renault is planning to produce a new model automobile at OJSC AvtoVAZ in Izhevsk, Renault's General Director in Russia Bruno Ancelin told the press in Izhevsk on Tuesday.
"We can only say that there will be a new automobile. It is not yet ready at this time. So, at the very least, we will have to wait for several months before we begin producing this automobile here," Ancelin said. "It can be said with confidences that the new Renault automobile will be produced in this plant," he said.
Ancelin, AvtoVAZ President Igor Komarov, and Nissan Vice President Colin Dodge are in Izhevsk to take part in a working meeting of their companies' automotive alliance. Among the topics up for discussion is the development of the Izhevsk automotive plant (LLC United Automobile Group, an AvtoVAZ subsidiary).
An Interfax source familiar with Renault's plans said this new automobile will be built on the same B0 platform as the Renault Logan.
Komarov was cited earlier as saying that the alliance of Renault-Nissan and AvtoVAZ figure to put more than 10 billion rubles into the modernization of Izh-Auto over the next three or four years.
Komarov said that the Izh-Auto production facilities should be producing at least 300,000 Grantas and another model on that vehicle's platform.