Русский
The Russian auto manufacturer Sollers has begun the assembly of UAZ vehicles in Cuba, the company has stated. The project has been implemented by Sollers, UAZ distributor Echo-Export LLC, and with the Cuban company EISA.
Modern assembly equipment has been installed at a factory located in the industrial zone of the Cuban capital Havana, and product quality control systems have been implemented.
The first models to roll off the assembly line will be the UAZ Patriot and Pickup, fully adapted to the climate and road conditions of the region. The vehicles are being assembled using the large-unit assembly method (DKD/SKD) from kits supplied by the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant.
The planned production volume, after the plant reaches its designed capacity in September, will be 500 vehicles per year, while this can be increased, when operating in three shifts to 1,500 units per year. In the future, the model range is expected to expand, with particular emphasis on the commercial UAZ Profi . Technical oversight and quality control of the produced vehicles will be handled by representatives of Echo-Export LLC.
Sergei Dorokhov, the Project Manager of UAZ Cuba said that “Cuba is a historic partner of UAZ, and we are confident that consumers will appreciate the effectiveness and functionality of our uniquely Russian SUVs, which fully meet the needs of the Cuban market. Our regional distributor, Echo-Export LLC, has all the necessary competencies to monitor the efficiency of the assembly line, control quality and support customers.”
The company has established a system for servicing and supplying spare parts from the central warehouse in Havana, Echo-Export LLC Commercial Director Alexei Kivintsev said. “Our company is carrying out a phased certification of workshops and updating equipment to ensure high-quality service for customers across all regions of Cuba.”
Deepening cooperation with UAZ is a significant milestone in the development of Cuba’s national industry, the CEO of EISA, Emilio Napoles Soto, said. “Our project helps reduce dependency on imports, while also setting a solid technological foundation and creating favorable conditions for knowledge transfer,” he said.
Sollers’ sales in the Russian domestic market grew 9% in 2024, reaching 50,087 units.
Further Reading
