MAZ WILL RELEASE "SLENDER" BUSES FOR VIETNAM

Minsk automobile plant has developed buses with a smaller body width for Vietnam – the MAZ 208 model. In the near future, it is planned to organize joint production in the country of the Red Dragon for their assembly, Maz reported.


Buses for Vietnam will be "slimmer" than those used in Belarus. Local technical regulations allow a body width of 2.5 m, while Mazovian buses are at least 50 mm wider. Engineers will have to create a narrowed frame for Maz 208 and facilitate the design so that Belarusian vehicles can enter the Vietnamese market. Engines for new buses will supply Mercedes.

The first Maz 208 car sets will be sent to Vietnam in April, and on September 2 they will be shown at the city festival to the mayor of Hanoi and local residents. The first two contracts involve the assembly of 15 Maz 103 city buses with a passenger capacity of 80 people and 17 small Maz 206, each of which is designed for 60 people. In total, it is planned to deliver about 100 Belarusian-Vietnamese buses by the end of the year.

Interestingly, the Vietnamese will paint the buses in blue - exactly the same as the St. Petersburg club Zenit uses in its symbols. The same name is given to the joint venture "MAZ-Zenit", which is planned to be opened taking into account the agreement on the Free Trade Zone between the EAEU and Vietnam. Subsequently, it is planned to organize assembly production of Belarusian buses.

If the plant is built, Maz is ready to produce about 1 thousand buses per year in Vietnam. However, local legislation requires three times more production capacity. "We are now trying to find a compromise in the relevant state bodies of Vietnam so that we can reduce the capacity by at least 400-500 units. According to the experience of operation, not every city has such significant needs for high – capacity buses," explained Maz.

The main buyer of buses will be the corporation "Transerco" - the largest passenger carrier in Vietnam. Maz has already signed a memorandum of cooperation and the creation of a joint venture with its subsidiary Zenit. As soon as the production volumes are agreed, preparations for the construction of the bus plant will begin.

Earlier, Maz assembled 9 Maz 103 buses in Vietnam, which are now used at local airports. The partner was another Vietnamese company – Samco, which is located in Ho Chi Minh City. It is assumed that this cooperation will not end. Currently, negotiations are underway on the supply of Maz buses running on gas fuel and special buses for airports.

"Vietnam opens up great opportunities for Belarusian buses. Minsk automobile plant was the first to offer a European low-floor bus with a body width of 2500 mm, - the representative of JSC "Maz" drew attention. – We are appreciated as a European manufacturer with high quality equipment and European design. The construction of the plant will avoid customs duties, which will only strengthen our position in the markets of Southeast Asia».

The idea to build an assembly plant was first discussed during the visit of the head of state to Vietnam. Later, the two governments signed a " protocol to support the production of motor vehicles in Vietnam." According to him, Maz should build two plants in Vietnam: one for the production of trucks, the other for the production of buses. In return, Belarus receives quotas for duty-free import of cargo and passenger equipment, as well as machine kits. The project is personally supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko, and the Belarusian Embassy in Vietnam helps. The new plant will contribute to the growth of trade turnover between the countries, which is planned to increase to $500 million.

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