OREANDA-NEWS. GAZ Group’s Yaroslavl motor Plant “Avtodiesel” has entered into agreement with Westport, the leading international manufacturer of automotive gas-fuel systems and components, for the development of new compressed natural gas engines for CNG commercial, road construction and agro vehicles.

The Euro-4 and Euro-5 gas engine line is developed on the basis of the YaMZ-530 engine family, produced since 2013 at new production facilities in Yaroslavl, a cutting-edge site for engine production in Russia. New gas engines for commercial vehicles will feature the technical advantages and performance characteristics of the basic YaMZ-530 family – high capacity, fuel efficiency, reliability and competitive price.

YaMZ-530 gas engines are designed for vehicles produced by GAZ Group (GAZ medium-duty trucks, Ural trucks, PAZ, LIAZ and KAVZ buses), аnd for the Group’s other customers in the Russian and foreign markets.

Commenting on this important development, Bo Andersson, GAZ Group President/CEO, said:

“Westport’s engineering resources and expertise, as the global leader of natural gas-fuel technologies, will allow us to ensure high reliability and safety of gas-fuelled vehicles, which is the top-priority requirement for this type of vehicles. GAZ Group’s new line of natural gas engines will allow us to develop our methane bus and truck fleet to ensure low emissions level and fuel efficiency of cargo and passenger transportation in Russia”.

Within the framework of cooperation with GAZ Group Westport will develop gas equipment for YaMZ-530 engines and will participate t in tests and organization of engine production. In the course of this cooperation Westport will provide assistance in promotion of YaMZ-530 gas engines in the export markets.

“In the past three years, we have been selling CNG and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) components into the light-duty market in Russia, which is a key market for Westport, and have gained market leadership,” said Maurizio Grando, Managing Director of Westport’s Applied Technologies business unit. “The innovative technology in the WP580 system is based on years of experience in natural gas research and development activities, and our experience in markets around the world. We are honoured to be selected by GAZ as the partner for this new generation of products.”

Investments into the project will total approximately RUR 600 M, for gas engines development and creating an R&D facility at “Avtodiesel” for further development of the company’s gas engine line. Production of new Russian gas engines at Yaroslavl Plant will start in 2014.