Mercedes-Benz Might Soon Launch Car Production in Russia

Mercedes-Benz intends to launch vehicle production in Russia because of selective legislative bans on imported vehicles.

MOSCOW, December 3 (Sputnik) — German automotive corporation Mercedes-Benz is planning to launch production of light-duty vehicles in several Russian regions, as stated by Russia’s officials and representatives of Mercedes-Benz Russia.

The German carmaker is planning to build several plants in Russia, as stated by Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade.

“The negotiations are underway with Moscow, the Moscow region and the Republic of Tatarstan,” Manturov said. “We must decide in which region of Russia and in what form they (Mercedes-Benz’) are planning to organize their vehicle production proceedings.”

The recent protectionist measures, taken by Russia’s government, including the prohibition for the federal and regional authorities to purchase foreign-made automobiles triggered a debate on local Russian manufacturing of Mercedes cars

“Mercedes-Benz is now in talks with possible assembling partners in Russia,” Andrey Rodionov, head of Corporate Communication for Mercedes-Benz Russia, told Sputnik. “Our development strategy, to be realized by 2020, will relocate our production facilities closer to our customers,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz will launch a full-scale automotive production in Russia, as its luxury cars are in rife demand among the nation’s upper class.

“Considering the further proposals to impose bans on imported cars for the state-owned companies, we suppose Mercedes would find it of its best interest to organize  local production in Russia in order to successfully compete their counterparts who did so earlier,” Manturov said.