TOYOTA STOPS PRODUCING CARS, BUT REMAINS IN RUSSIA

The decision to close the plant in St. Petersburg was recently made by a Japanese company. The company in Shushary, which has been producing Camry and RAV4 cars in recent years, will be closed. The further fate of the production is not yet known. Experts assume that the plant will be sold.

The company started operating in Russia in 2007.

It is known that the head of state himself took part in laying the first stone at the construction site of the future plant. Subsequently, he participated in its ceremonial launch. 

Now, as a number of experts suggest, the plant may face the fate of another similar production in the Moscow region, where Mercedes cars were assembled. It can be sold.

Last year, the capacity of the enterprise increased by 20%. The plant has established the production of more than 80 thousand cars, supplying them to neighboring countries with Russia. About 11.9% of cars from St. Petersburg were sold to Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. In total, the Japanese company has sold 117.3 thousand vehicles in Russia.

It is known that the company has been idle since March 2022. Logistics difficulties caused by the start of the military operation on the territory of Ukraine did not allow the company to start production and resume the supply of components. 

Official import of Toyota cars during this period also proved impossible.

Owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles will have the opportunity to be serviced at service centers. The closure of the plant in St. Petersburg should also not have a direct impact on the work of the dealer network. However, as experts note, the termination of an enterprise of this scale will have a negative impact on the Russian economy.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that officials intend to discuss the fate of the industrial site together with the authorities of St. Petersburg. At the same time, the company itself plans to close not only the plant, but also the office in Moscow. The firm said that employees will be provided with impressive compensation payments related to their dismissal.

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