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Western Auto OEMs Seek Privileges for LNG Trucks
Move is opposed by Russian KAMAZ which plans to make similar machines.
Maxim Sakov Market players have proposed canceling import taxes and utilization fees for commercial vehicles fueled by LNG until 2025. The target of the measure is the development of LNG-transport until the appearance of domestic analogs of such machinery.
The suggestion comes from foreign makers of LNG on-highway tractors and supported by Gazprom. Now, no imported vehicles are exempted from these taxes.
The import tax for on-highway tractors is 5% of their cost, and the utilization fee is 10 to 12K Euro. LNG tractor is more expensive than its diesel analog by about 35K Euro.
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BMW Production Plant Scheduled for Kaliningrad
Maxim Sakov The launch of new plant with full production capabilities for BMW SUVs is planned for July 2021. According to Kaliningrad officials, the new plant is one of the most important investment projects in the regional processing industry. Autotor holding makes up a significant part of the regional production.
Officials said the enterprise is one of the largest employers and taxpayers in Kaliningrad region. Construction of the plant building is underway, and machinery installation will be started in January 2021. The first car is expected to be produced in July 2021.
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Production of Mercedes-Benz Actros Planned at KAMAZ Plant
Maxim Sakov Russian production of the clean on-road Mercedes-Benz Actros will start in November at the KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny plant. The new truck is being modified by Mercedes to meet Euro-6 standards. At the same time, German engineers are reworking the process of exhaust gases neutralization.
Russian production of Actros will allow Russian fleet-owners to purchase top-quality trucks without extra customs fees. The price and initial availability have not been disclosed. Read The Article
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Russian Government To Pay 60% of Expenses for Switching Vehicles to NG
The Russian government subsidies now will cover 60% of individuals’ and small business’ expenses for switching vehicles from gasoline to NG fuel. That’s up from 30%.
Maxim Sakov The minister of Power Industry has offered to increase subsidies for switching vehicles belonging to individuals and small business two times – from 30% to 60%. Another 30% will be paid by Gazprom at the expenses of its marketing program. Therefore, vehicle owners should pay only 10% of the cost to switch.
The government will assign US$ 0.7 billion (50 billion Rubles) for development of the NG fuel industry during the period 2020-2024. This includes an annual assignment of 3.5 billion rubles for gas fuel stations and 0.7 billion rubles for fleet modification.
There are 484 gas stations in Russia (May 2020), 329 of them belong to Gazprom. In 2019, the fuel sales on gas stations increased 30%. Read The Article
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New Restrictions for Import of Right-Wheel Engines to Russia Launched
New restrictions for imports of right-wheel engines to Russia became effective July 1. Completely barred from import are machines of the M2 and M3 class – trucks, buses, LCVs and construction machines.
Maxim Sakov On top of this, the procedure of Custom’s clearance of right-wheel passenger cars became more complicated. The owner of such car should obtain technical certificate, confirming compliance of car design to the safety requirement.
According to the Federal Customs Service, the amount of payments will depend on ecological class, production date, engine volume and other parameters. This will include processing fee, custom’s tax and utilization fee. Read The Article
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Hyundai Plant Can Produce 300,000 Car Engines Annually
Hyundai VIA has begun construction on an auto engine plant near St. Petersburg.
Maxim Sakov The enterprise initially plans to make 240,000 engines per year. Then, the capacity will increase, and the plant will make 300,000 Gamma I engines of 1.6 liters.
The project has been established under a special investment contract. The investors “injected” US$185 million (13.1 billion Rubles) into the project. The plant will bring about 500 jobs to the city.
Test launch of the plant is planned in Q1 2021, and mass production is scheduled to start in October 2021. Read The Article
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Kamaz Introduces First Mining Truck
KAMAZ says it has developed and built KAMAZ 65805 – first truck in its new mining truck portfolio. The product line will consist of dump trucks with wheel formula 8*4 and 10*6 and cargo capacity from 45 to 70 tons. The dimensions of the new truck will allow driving on regular automobile roads.
The new KAMAZ is powered by a 12-liter inline KAMAZ R-6 engine of 500 hp, and hydromechanical transmission with retarder.
The truck is introduced as “Autonomous ready,” and can be converted to a driverless vehicle by installing sensors and a decision-making chip.
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Autotor Plant To Suspend Assembly of BMW Cars
Autotor’s Kaliningrad plant plans to suspend assembly of BMW cars from the middle of June to the beginning of July because of a components shortage. This is told by CEO of the plant Ruslan Sadykov.
Stephen Teichert, head of BMW Russia, claims Autotor production capacity has been reduced by about 70%; however, in July the OEM plans to increase production to pre-COVID-19 level. Read The Article
PSR Analysis: The Autotor plant in Russia assembles passenger cars kits for BMW, Hyundai…
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Construction Machinery Sales Could Fall 18%
The market for construction machinery showed good results in Q1 2020, following ruble devaluation and the construction of hospitals. However, it began to decline in April, and the Association of European Business (AEB) expects an 18% decline for 2020 instead of the small growth forecasted earlier.
Maxim Sakov The most significant sales decline is expected for excavators, loaders and dump trucks. Only crawler tractors can avoid decrease, however, it’s still 32.6% worse than pre-crisis expectation.
Experts note that the largest decline is likely to be in more expensive applications, or where existing fleets have larger reserves. In cases where there are no support measures, the decline could be as much as 50% or more.
However, one positive signal is that there are no plans to reduce road construction projects.
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Russia: Assembly of Electric GAZelle LCVs Started in Germany
Sales of electric version of GAZelle Next LCV have begun in Germany. Stuttgart company EFA-S is modifying Russian vehicles. The assembly started this year.
Maxim Sakov The German company purchases LCVs in Russia without transmission, engine and fuel system. Then in Stuttgart they install an electric motor and battery.
Currently, four versions of the electric vehicle are available – a side truck, a wagon, a 2-cabin wagon and a mini-bus. All LCVs are powered by a 110 kWt electric motor and can reach a speed of 88 km/hour.
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