Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant will start assembling SUVs in Ethiopia in August. The first models will roll off the assembly line in August. This is stated in the statement of the Russian company, made following the negotiations with the Bazra Motors firm during the visit of the UAZ delegation to the republic.
The parties entered into an agreement to launch production, develop sales and ensure subsequent maintenance of the products of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant on the territory of this East African country, UAZ said in a statement.
The first deliveries will include 64 vehicle kits. It is planned to reach the design capacity of the enterprise in the town of Kombolcha, 3 thousand units per year, within 2.5 years. Such models as "Patriot", "Pickup", "Profi", "Hunter" will be assembled here. In the future, the company expects to develop other modifications depending on the Ethiopian market.
Local residents have already shown interest in UAZ products earlier. In the last 20 years alone, the plant has delivered more than 1200 machines to the country. The company has repeatedly announced plans to further expand the geography of sales in order to increase their volumes in foreign markets up to 20 thousand vehicles per year (about 30% of the total sales of the enterprise).
Earlier it became known that the first batch of UAZ SUVs was sold out in Chile, where mining companies and surfing clubs showed particular interest in Russian cars. 18 dealerships will be opened in the country. In general, in the coming years, UAZ plans to sell at least three thousand passenger cars a year in Latin American markets.
According to the Association of European Businesses, sales of Sollers (UAZ is part of the group) in the Russian Federation in 2020 decreased by 1.9%, its exports - by 36.6%.
