Production of Volvo Trucks Launched in Moscow

The production of Volvo trucks was launched in Zelenograd (Moscow's northern district outside the city) on March 20, 2003.

Moscow Vice Mayor Valery Shantsev said at the opening ceremony that "the Moscow government welcomes such projects." According to him, they "contribute to creating new jobs for the Muscovites and bring profit to the city budget in the form of tax incomes." Shantsev added that the project was commercial, and the city did not have a share in it. The project was implemented by Volvo and the Sistema Corporation (Russia).

Volvo Truck Corporation press services told RIA Novosti that it was the first Western truck manufacturer that launched production in Russia. At the initial stage, the factory will produce 200-300 trucks a year. The first assemblies were delivered to Zelenograd in December, 2002, and the production of trucks started in January, 2003. Volvo has similar factories in about a dozen countries.

In prospect, the production of component items can be launched in Russia, too. Simultaneously, the company makes investments into developing the system of their sale.

Currently, 12,000 Volvo trucks are used in Russia. The company supplied 423 trucks to this country in 2002 alone. The company's management believes that it has chosen the right time to launch production in Russia, as the political situation is stable and economy continues to grow, said Lars Corneliusson, head of Volvo Trucks Russia.

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