During a meeting with Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Grohn in Moscow on Tuesday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that this week will see the government review its strategy to develop the country's automotive industry by notably expanding cooperation with its foreign counterparts. Putin pledged to demonstrate liberalism and transparency as far as the development of mutual collaboration is concerned.
Building more assembly plants across Russia should become a cornerstone of our partnership with the French car maker, Putin pointed out, specifically calling for the construction of a Renault auto plant in Russia's Far East to add to Renault's further foray into the Russian car market. About 200,000 Renault cars have been produced in Russia in the past ten years, Putin said, citing plans to bring the capacity up to 160,000 cars per year. The Russian PM pledged to inject heavily into the matter, particularly pointing to the necessity of creating normal working conditions at the would-be assembly plants.
Ghosn, in turn, voiced hope that the Russian government will endorse Renault's push for cooperation with its Russian counterparts. In a show of broader partnership, the Renault chief executive signaled his company's readiness to help the Russian car makers establish joint ventures with its colleagues from Japan, France and other countries.
In Moscow, expert Nikita Maslennikov appreciates the Russian government's drive to add to cementing ties between Renault and the Russian car maker AvtoVAZ:
"A government-drafted investment plan stipulates a total overhaul of AvtoVAZ by specifically helping it break through into new markets and create new models, Maslennikov says. With the modernization of AvtoVAZ already under way, Putin's thank you to Renault for its participation in propping up the Russian car maker is only natural", Maslennikov argues.
He adds that the next few months should see the government tread carefully in a bid to continue to shore up AvtoVAZ as well as the whole of the Russian car industry.
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