Still in test mode
In the company GC «Avtodom» talked about plans to restart the former Mercedes plant in Yesipovo near Moscow. Let us remind you that in April last year «Avtodom» became the owner of 100% of the shares of Mercedes-Benz Rus JSC.
General Director of the Group of Companies «Avtodom» Andrey Olkhovsky reported that mass production has not yet started at the plant, but testing is underway, since a technology partner has not yet been selected.
«The plant stands still — hasn't gone anywhere. All employees are on site, each of them is paid a full salary in order to be able to be ready to start work. Before the new year, a test batch of cars began to be assembled here to check the technical performance of the entire production line. But this does not mean at all that the assembly has started. Technologically, this must be done in order for the plant to be in working order», — said Olkhovsky.
«Of course, we are planning and will begin assembling cars at the plant. We are in regular dialogue with MPT regarding the formation of relationships with technology partners, of which there may be several. There are many issues that have not yet been resolved, but we are getting closer to the goal, — he noted.
He confirmed that he communicates with other market participants, their situation is approximately the same. Various services are involved in the process of finding partners, which are trying to «to create business models that would be beneficial for each party». Andrey Olkhovsky added that the Chinese partners have a certain approach and it must be followed, so the process is not going as quickly as we would like.
Rumors that Hongqi will be a partner of the plant have already been denied.