Arrangement similar to Renault's exit from Russia being discussed for other auto manufacturers - minister

ST. PETERSBURG. June 17 (Interfax) - The Russian Industry and Trade Ministry is in talks with foreign automotive manufacturers that have decided to end their operations in Russia, discussing among other things using Renault's arrangement for withdrawing from Russian assets transferred to the new owners for a ruble, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told journalists at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"Everyone is reasonable, therefore no one is interested in just roughly slamming the door. In every concrete instance, someone makes a decision for themselves in respect to, for example, transferring to one of their dealers, someone will do something more or less like that, like Renault," Manturov said.

The withdrawal of foreign auto manufacturers from the Russian market was discussed at a meeting with the Russian president on Thursday, he said.

"I reported to the president which enterprises are operating smoothly today, I mean foreign ones. That's the Haval company in Tula, which, I believe, we brought onto our market in time. And today, it's basically the foreign company that has remained operating. But at the same time, how things stand with Avtovaz was reported on, how we found a solution with the Renault company. And it was reported that we're in dialogue with every manufacturer of foreign brands, and I hope that a solution will be found for each of them," Manturov said.

Manturov did not answer a question about which auto manufacturers precisely an arrangement similar to that of Renault withdrawing from Avtovaz and Avtoframos is being discussed. "We're in negotiations," he said.