Suzuki to Drive to St. Petersburg in Nissan
Japanese Suzuki intends to assemble cars in Russia, making them on St. Petersburg facilities of Japan’s other carmaker, Nissan.
Suzuki and Nissan are studying the project, whereby Nissan will produce Suzuki for Russia at its facilities in St. Petersburg, Japanese Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported. A new carmaker will be put into operation in 2009, have the annual capacity of 50,000 and release at least three models of middle-class cars equipped with engines of two liters and more. The actual construction is slated to begin next spring or summer. Nissan has invested $200 million in the undertaking.
Suzuki currently exports to Russia off-highway cars of Japan’s make and compact cars assembled in Hungary. Apart from Suzuki and Nissan, Japan’s Toyota will soon start assembling its cars here. Moreover, the sources say-off-the record that Mitsubishi may join the league as well.
The St. Petersburg project isn’t the first agreement on joint production entered into by Nissan and Suzuki. The latter, for instance, delivers to Nissan the compact cars, which it sells mostly in Japan under its own brand. In June, however, the companies agreed to further widen cooperation. Starting from 2008, Nissan will make pickups that Suzuki will sell in North America, while Suzuki will make compact cars for Nissan to be sold in Europe.
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All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 23, 2006
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