MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The Sollers Ford automobile plant will halt production in Yelabuga, Russia’s Tatarstan republic, from March 3 due to the decision of the Ford Motor Company to temporarily suspend the activities and operations of the joint venture with Sollers, the press service of the automaker told TASS.

"In connection with the decision of Ford Motor Company to temporarily suspend the activities and operations of the joint venture, Sollers Ford announces going into idle time from March 3," the company said.

The company noted that the management of Sollers Ford will take all legal actions to ensure social obligations to the personnel during the period of forced downtime and ensure the resumption of the enterprise's work as soon as possible after a decision is made by Ford Motor Company.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that BMW would also suspend the assembly of its cars at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad. The Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg and the Moscow Renault plant also temporarily suspended operations due to problems with the supply of components.

Sollers Ford is a renewed joint venture of Russia’s Sollers and Ford Motor Company. It producers Ford Transit vehicles at the plant in Yelabuga, Tatarstan. Sollers is the managing shareholder with the 51% stake in the charter capital.