“Kamaz has solid programmes on renovating production”, Putin considers

Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin has in a special programme "Talking to Vladimir Putin. Continuation" talked to the Kamaz personnel. The workers in the cabin assembly workshop inquired how the government planned to support the auto industry in the future.

According to Vladimir Putin, the Kamaz management and Sergei Kogogin, CEO, were quite efficient. In the hard time of a world crisis, the state has supported the national auto industry through raising customs duties and placing state orders - about 70 thousand domestic-made vehicles have been purchased. The Defence Ministry and Interior Ministry have spent 15 billion roubles in buying autos for the Emergencies Ministry as extra support. Hardware for municipal needs worth 20 billion roubles has been purchased.

“We will go on with these programmes in 2010. Therefore, there will be support from the state,” pledged the Prime Minister.

Kamaz has solid programmes aimed to renovate its production facilities and increase the innovative component. Vladimir Putin recalled that during his recent visit to Kamaz he had taken part in the launch of an engine assembly workshop at the Cummins Kama joint venture premises.

“They are very good engines. They will definitely be called for in both our country and on the foreign markets. They have been successfully sold in many countries across the world,” the official claimed. He said the project would be supported by Russia’s Vnesheconombank.

The Cummins Kama joint venture, set up by the famous US producer of engines Cummins and Kamaz, was established in 2006. The partners made fifty-fifty contributions. The plant manufactures American-design diesel engines for Kamaz small and medium capacity trucks and Nefaz buses. They are models, ranging from 140 to 300 horse powers in capacity, that were not present in Kamaz’s main engine portfolio.