OREANDA-NEWS. Ulyanovsk Automobile factory (LLC «UAZ», the main asset of the Sollers group) has agreed with the African Bazra Motors to organize the assembly production of UAZ cars in Ethiopia. This was reported by the Russian manufacturer.

The parties concluded an agreement on the launch of production, development of sales and provision of subsequent maintenance of UAZ vehicles on the territory of the East African state.

The report says, that the agreements reached provide for the organization of the assembly of cars by a large-node method at the production site of Bazra Motors in the city of Kombolcha (Amhara state). In addition to all versions of «UAZ Patriot», «Pickup» and «Profi», off-road vehicles «Hunter» and models of the classic line of old cargo row will go off the assembly line.

The model range for the Ethiopian market is planned to be supplemented with modifications taking into account local specifics. The company is expected to reach it's design capacity of 3 thousand units of production per year by the end of 2023. Delivery of the first batch of 64 machine kits is scheduled for August this year.

According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), sales of Sollers in Russia in 2020 decreased by 1.9%, to 50,525 thousand. In particular, 36,487 UAZs (-6%) and 14,038 thousand were sold. LCV Ford Transit (+12%), manufactured at the Sollers Ford joint venture in Yelabuga.

The press service of Sollers reported to Russian media «Interfax», that the group's exports, which are based on UAZ, fell by 36.6% in 2020, to 3,625 thousand units.

The Sollers Group unites UAZ and the ZMZ industrial site, has a joint venture in Russia with the American Ford in Tatarstan, the Japanese Mazda in the Far East and with Isuzu in Ulyanovsk. The main owner of Sollers is Vadim Shvetsov, who owns 73.3% of the group's authorized capital through Sollers Group LLC and another 0.046% directly.