TOKYO, August 27 (Itar-Tass) — A joint venture, which will be created by Russia’s Sollers company and Japan’s Mazda carmaker, will be commissioned in Vladivostok on September 6, an official at the Japanese company said on Monday, adding that the opening ceremony will be held in the format of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
According to the official, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano will represent Japan at the ceremony, while First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov will attend the ceremony on behalf of Russia.
In April 2012, the two sides agreed to create a joint venture on the parity basis to manufacture Mazda-designed and Sollers-designed cars for their further sale on the Russian Market, the official reaffirmed.
In his words, the joint venture will produce crossover Mazda CX-5 and sedan Mazda-6, as well as models of the Sollers group. At the first stage, the new facility will produce 50,000 cars a year. Moreover, the capacity of the plant is planned to go up to 70,000 cars a year, the official said.
The Russian Sollers Group of companies embraces such facilities, as Sollers – Naberezhnye Chelny, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, the Zavolzhsky Engine Plant and the Sollers – Far East enterprise.
The Sollers group produce such brands of cars as UAZ, ISUZU and SsangYong.
In autumn 2011, a joint venture of the Sollers company and the USA’s Ford concern was launched.