Uzbekistan, Tashkent, June 5 / Trend D. Azizov /
Ltd. Samarkand Automobile Plant (JSC SamAvto) will begin mass production of a new model of low-floor bus Samauto LE 60 in September, Uzavtoprom told Trend.
A bus Samauto LE 1960 with a capacity of 65 passengers and the total mass of 9,8 tons has been assembled by professionals of "SamAvto" together with the Russian Engineering company Ermis.
The new bus model is equipped with a diesel engine from Deutz Germany with the rear transverse arrangement, the gearbox ZF, rear axle and front suspension from the Hungarian RABA, braking system from Belgian WABCO.
The plant completes the test of two prototypes of a new bus. The company can produce up to 100 buses on technology SKD-assembly by late 2010. Total project provides for an annual output of 500 cars, the source said.
The source did not name the project cost and amount of investment.
Ltd. SamAvto was established in November 2006 on the basis of the Uzbek-Turkish joint venture "SamKochavto", declared bankrupt. Currently, shareholders of SamAvto are Uzavtoprom (66 percent), Uzbek Asaka Bank (26 percent) and Japan's Itochu, which owns the rights to the brand Isuzu (8 percent).
In January 2007, "SamAuto" started to assemble cars of Japanese Isuzu Motors. The company produces passenger buses with a capacity of 37 people, suburban - 22 seats, as well as trucks of four models with capacities from 4-18 tons. According to the program of development of production, the company in 2010 was to reach its planned capacity of up to 4,000 cars of different modifications per year.
In 2009, the company produced 2,039 cars, which is two percent more than the previous year. The production of buses declined by 15.4 percent - up to 1,317 units. The production of trucks increased by 1.6 times - up to 722 units.