OREANDA-NEWS. December 20, 2010. Daimler AG and the Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ announced the next stage in their partnership. In a memorandum of understanding signed by the both companies, the parties agree to cooperate on production of commercial vehicle axles. At the first stage, the partners plan to invest 50 million euro in axle production in Russia.

“The joint venture will supply axles to KAMAZ as well as to the joint venture Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok,” says Stefan Buchner who is responsible for procurement and global powertrain operations at Daimler Trucks. “This step underscores Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ desire to expand its global component manufacturing network in Russia as well.”

And Sergey Kogogin, Director General of KAMAZ, adds, “I’m delighted that the strategic partnership between Daimler Trucks and KAMAZ has been further strengthened by this MoU and that our joint venture company will also supply axle components to Germany in the future.”

A multi-stage plan for the local production of Daimler axles in Naberezhnye Chelny specifies that Daimler will soon supply axles and axle components for non-drive front axle systems and one- and two-stage rear drive axle systems. Plans also call for KAMAZ to supply individual axle components to the Daimler axle plant in Kassel where they will be further assembled.

The use of Daimler axles in the construction of KAMAZ vehicles will considerably increase their operating characteristics and bring them close to world standards. Operators will receive vehicles satisfying their highest demands.

The two joint ventures established in the first half of 2010, Fuso KAMAZ Trucks Rus and Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok, are also working very successfully together and have already achieved important milestones. In April, for instance, Fuso KAMAZ Trucks Rus launched production of the Fuso Canter 7.5 ton light truck at the Naberezhnye Chelny production facility, followed by the start of sales in June 2010. By the end of this year, sales of vehicles from Russian production will total about 400 units.

Production has also been successfully launched at Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok. After the first Mercedes-Benz Actros was assembled in Naberezhnye Chelny in late September, preparations have now been completed for series production and the first vehicles have been put together on the new assembly line. In addition to the Mercedes-Benz Actros, which is already produced in Russia, in the future the Mercedes-Benz Axor and Atego will also be produced there. Sales of more than 1,700 trucks are expected in 2010. About 50 units of them will be assembled in Russia.

The foundation for Daimler Trucks’ strategic involvement in KAMAZ was put in place in December 2008. Following the successful increase of the stake in the Russian company, which became effective in June 2010, Daimler AG and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development now jointly hold 15 percent of the shares in KAMAZ.