The JV sill assemble and sell coaches, intercity busses, city busses and mid-busses for the Uzbek market and also for export to neighboring countries. The deal is scheduled to be sealed in the third quarter of the current year.
“I’m delighted that we have taken another important step today in our efforts towards opening up growth markets,” said Andreas Renschler, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses. “We have been selling Mercedes-Benz buses to customers in Uzbekistan, and in particular in Tashkent, since 1994. Today we have created the basis for also producing a wide range of buses in the country and for serving the neighboring growth markets with locally manufactured products.”
“As a result of a very intensive negotiation process, and thanks to the full support of the Government of Uzbekistan and constructive approach of Daimler, we were able to successfully complete our negotiations and attract into the automotive industry of Uzbekistan another very important strategic partner,” said Gairat Niyazov, Deputy Chairman of Board of Uzavtosanoat JSC.
Uzavtosanoat will provide the factory buildings, Daimler Buses will deliver the Mercedes-Benz chassis, while the bodies well be built in collaboration with the German company’s traditional partner, Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles. The new company will have $8 million of equity capital.
At first, the annual production capacity of the joint-business will reach 600 units, with a potential expansion in sight. The first vehicles will roll off the production line in September, with the busses being marketed as Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
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