OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2008. In Naberezhnye Chelny Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of KAMAZ Inc., held a press conference devoted to the signed agreement governing the exclusive strategic partnership with Daimler AG.

In his opening speech Sergey Kogoghin noted the company’s successful development during the last years. The company’s actual cost increased, its debts restructuring was carried out, production is improving and ramping up. The head of KAMAZ Inc. noted that the contract had been prepared on a tight timetable, within only 10 months. The strategic partnership between KAMAZ and Daimler AG is beneficial for the both parties. KAMAZ has got the possibility not only to considerably reduce the investment outlay, but also to gain access to the supplier market of its western partner.

According to the management of the auto giant, the company will benefit from the possibility of widening the range of goods for the dealer network of KAMAZ Inc. During the crisis Daimler products included in the goods range will guarantee the maintenance of an acceptable sales impact. Cooperation with the Russian auto giant will help Daimler struggle for the Russian market more effectively gaining an advantage over the brands which had come to it earlier, for instance, Volvo and SCANIA.

Sergey Kogoghin noted a number of factors enabling KAMAZ to resist the crisis successfully. This is a high capacity of the Russian truck and special equipment market, a complex of effective measures taken by the RF Government to support the Russian automotive industry, a range of agreements with security, defence and law enforcement agencies of the RF concerning deliveries of KAMAZ production.

At the press conference there was paid much attention to the situation at KAMAZ. The company managed to provide the staff with work outside the working area of KAMAZ Inc. for the period of the forced suspension of production, to organize the execution of paid secondary works, to keep the regular labour force of the enterprises having dismissed only temporary employees and stopped employment. A timely wage payment is secured, a social package is kept.

In a word, we have every reason to think KAMAZ to be a successful enterprise even in conditions of the world crisis.

The business plan of KAMAZ Inc. for 2009 will be considered at the company’s Board of Directors meeting which will be held on December 17.