Toyota to Launch RAV4 Production in Russia

Toyota Motor Corp. says its Russian production company will establish local output of its hot-selling RAV4 small SUV in 2016.

The company expects to invest about 18 billion yen ($183 million) to double annual capacity to 100,000 units at its factory in St. Petersburg. The 2.2 million m² facility, which opened at the end of 2007, currently employs 1,600 workers. Toyota says the expansion will add about 800 employees.

The RAV4 is the company's most popular model in Russia. Toyota sold about 27,000 imported RAV4s there from January through August this year.