Truck-makers capitalise on Russia’s growth

Leading Swedish truck maker Scania doubled its sales in Russia last year, making the country its third largest market.

Scania makes buses in St. Petersburg, wants to build trucks, and is looking to add value through its service network

“We are now in more then 30 cities of Russia with Scania service centres. We are adding service centers from ten to fifteen every year. Actually, in 2010 we will have more than fifty service centers all over Russia,” the president of Scania Russia Rajmo Lehtio said.

Another major, Volvo Trucks, is setting up a factory in Kaluga region.

“We have an assembly plant in Zelenograd, just outside of Moscow. Last year we produced a little bit more than 500 trucks. In the beginning of the next year we will have a factory with a capacity of 10,000 Volvo trucks and 5,000 Renault trucks. So, it is a very serious step forward into this market,” added deputy managing director of Volvo Trucks Lars Himmer.

The third largest vehicle maker MAN recently won two contracts to sell about 5,000 heavy trucks to Russia.

Russia's largest truck maker KAMAZ is borrowing $US 200 million for new investment.