11 Jun 2010 12:51

AvtoVaz to produce no less than 550,000 vehicles in 2010 - Komarov

PARIS. June 11 (Interfax) - OJSC AvtoVaz plans to process no less than 550,000 vehicles in 2010, the company's president, Igor Komarov, told journalists on Friday during the Russian National Exhibition in Paris.

"We will have a new forecast for automobile production ready by month's end. It is now possible to say that the forecast will have an increase of no less than 100,000 vehicles in comparison with the business-plan at the start of the year, meaning production of no less than 550,000 cars," he said.

Komarov added that the company has been working at almost full production capacity. He said that the company has no plans to expand its constant compliment of employees in light of this production increase.

He added that the increase in car production by been largely influenced by a utilization program for old cars. Komarov said that Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry would fully close the program in the coming days having allocated around 200,000 certificates. Komarov said that around 80% of these certificates had been for the purchase of new AvtoVaz products.

Komarov also said that the consultations are currently continuing with component suppliers in order to expand the production program and prevent limits on output growth.