Renault-Nissan and AvtoVAZ inaugurated a new production line in Togliatti

The strategic partnership between Renault-Nissan and AVTOVAZ entered a new stage with the opening of a new production line at the factory in Togliatti

An investment of € 400 million for a capacity of 350,000 cars per year for the three brands.

After Lada Largus, new models Nissan and Renault will follow.

This new production line contributes to the objective of the three partners achieve production capacity of 1.6 million vehicles per year in Russia 2016.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inaugurates a new car manufacturing facility marks an additional step in the strategic partnership between Renault-Nissan and AvtoVAZ.

Igor Komarov, the president of AVTOVAZ, Carlos Tavares, the Director General Delegate to the operations of Renault and Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan's operating manager, accompanied Putin at the inauguration ceremony of Togliatti plant the largest in the world.

The first car produced on this line is the van Lada Largus.

€ 400 million were invested in total in the industrial complex of 250,000 square meters, which benefited from the expertise of the Renault-Nissan Alliance in engineering and cost reduction.

The complex houses the new line today inaugurated production. Have a maximum capacity of 350,000 cars per year, this line will produce for the three brands - Renault, Nissan and AvtoVAZ.

The production started with two new models of Lada, followed by a year in the model of Nissan and Renault two in 2013. A total of five different models, representing the three brands emerge chains, so as to reduce the costs while preserving the specificities of each brand.

"Our collaboration is reinforced constantly and amplifies the economies of scale within the Alliance," stated Carlos Ghosn, President Director General of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. "All stakeholders in win-win - and its benefits are increasingly felt as Russia has become the engine of economic growth in Europe."

A strong partnership

The bases of the partnership were laid in 2008 with the acquisition by Renault of 25% in the capital of AVTOVAZ and resulting transfers of technology and know-how to AVTOVAZ.

"Our line project joint production Togliatti began there two years in full during the difficult days that hit the economy. We are therefore very proud to see that he henceforth reality, "stated Igor Komarov, the president of AVTOVAZ. "Our collaboration is strengthened day after day."

The new installed capacity has Togliatti contributes to the common goal of three partners reach a total production capacity of Renault-Nissan-AVTOVAZ at least 1.6 million vehicles annually in 2016.

Concurrently industrial boot has Togliatti, the companies are in final negotiations with a view to taking additional units of the Renault-Nissan Alliance in AVTOVAZ.

Last year, the Alliance has sold 878,990 cars - including 578,387 Lada - Russia. With a market share close to 33%, Russia is the third step of the Alliance after China and the United States.

The Russian economy continues to grow faster in Europe, and should remain at the forefront for several decades thanks to the rise in the consumption of superior middle class in the region.

Annual revenues of more than 10 million Russian households EXCEED 50,000 American dollars. According to the consulting firm Ernst & Young, Russia will overtake Germany in 2015 and will become the largest automobile market in Europe with sales figures for cars up to about 3.4 million.

About the Renault-Nissan Alliance

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a strategic partnership between Renault, with headquarters in Paris, and Nissan, based in Yokohama, Japan, which together sell 10 cars in the world. Strategic partners since 1999, the two companies have sold 8.03 million cars in nearly 200 countries in 2011. Besides his collaboration with AVTOVAZ, the Alliance cooperates on the strategic plan with other automakers like Daimler in Germany Dong Feng in China and Ashok Leyland in India.

About Avtaovaz

AVTOVAZ is one of the largest car manufacturers in Europe and the first car manufacturer in Russia, where the company holds about one-third of national output in 2011. The production capacities of the company allow the production of 945,000 cars by year (new production line Togliatti included). AVTOVAZ (including its IzhAvto plant) manufactures six models in the B segment (Samara, Kalina, Priora, Granta, 4x4 and Classics). In 2010, net earnings AVTOVAZ amounted to 3.6 billion rubles; for half of 2011, net income was 6.4 billion rubles.