Kamaz aims to localize latest generation of truck cabs by March

KAZAN. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Kamaz plans to fully localize production of the latest generation K5 truck cabs by March 2023, the Russian truck maker's CEO, Sergei Kogogin said in an interview with in-house publication Vesti Kamaza.

"Our nearest objective is to fully complete the localization of the new cab by March," Kogogin said.

This refers to localizing interior components, as the K5 cab frame has already been localized, Kamaz's press service told Interfax.

Kamaz is currently producing three generations of trucks: the "classic" K3 with the company's own cab, and the K4 and K5 with cabs licensed from Mercedes-Benz. In March, after the imposition of sanctions and German automaker Daimler Truck AG's exit from the Russian market, Kamaz ran into problems building trucks of the last two generations.

Kamaz plans to keep producing K4 generation trucks at least throughout 2022, and fully localize assembly of K5 trucks in the first quarter of 2023.

Kamaz built 40 Kamaz-54901 long haul tractor trucks in August, and plans to produce at least 100 of this flagship model of the K5 generation per month in September-December, the company's in-house publication reported.