OREANDA-NEWS. German Volkswagen will reduce by 30 thousand vehicles the production at the plant in the Kaluga region due to the weakening of the ruble and a decline in purchasing power. According to the German magazine Automobilwoche, Volkswagen outlined to reduce the production up to 120,000 vehicles this year, compared with 150 thousand that were originally planned.

The representative of Volkswagen declined to comment on the indicators, mentioned by magazine, but he confirmed that the company reduces temporarily the production in the Kaluga region in connection with the economic situation in Russia. "Nevertheless, Volkswagen Group keeps a high interest in the Russian market and it implements consistently the investment program in Russia", - said the spokesman, by noting that in Kaluga this year it was opened a new bodybuilder production, and the engine plant and a new parts warehouse will start to work in Moscow in 2015.

On Monday, September 8th, Volkswagen stopped the Russian plant in Kaluga for two weeks "due to the general economic situation in Russia" and "as a corrective measure," writes the newspaper "Vedomosti".

Kaluga plant produces models of Volkswagen and Skoda. Capacity of the plant is more than 225 thousand cars a year. VW also produces vehicles under the contract at the "GAZ Group" with the capacity of more than 130 thousand cars a year. By the end of 2013 Volkswagen Group produced in Russia 188,000 vehicles (it is more by 4.5% than the previous year), among which it was produced more than 150,000 vehicles at the Kaluga plant (it is less by 14% than a year before).