Prepare truck-scrappage program proposals, Putin tells govt
NIZHNY NOVGOROD. Dec 23 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has tasked various ministries with putting together in Q1 next year proposals on a scrappage program for trucks and buses.
"Bearing in mind the success of the program for scrapping cars, one might also think about various schemes for supporting truck and bus sales. Think about it," Putin said during a meeting devoted to strategy for developing Russia's automotive industry in the period up to 2020.
Putin gave the "Trade and Industry, Finance, and Economic Development Ministries the task of putting together and submitting those proposals in the first quarter of next year."
Putin noted that during regional meetings the question of expanding the scrappage program came up more than once, and that the view was it should be extended to trucks and buses. "This is not the same thing," he said.
Russia's state old-car scrappage program began on March 8. In return for an old-car trade-in, a buyer receives a 50,000-ruble certificate toward the purchase of a new, domestically produced vehicle, including machines produced by industrial assemblage. Cars older than ten years, both domestic and imports, and registered to the end-owner for at least one year are eligible under the program.