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VW Plant in Russia Stops Production for 10 Days
Volkswagen AG has joined AvtoVAZ, Ford and General Motors in trimming production in Russia because of the country's economic slump.
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Volkswagen AG has joined AvtoVAZ, Ford and General Motors in trimming production in Russia because of the country's economic slump.
VW began a 10-day shutdown on Monday at its factory in Kaluga. The plant, which has capacity to make 150,000 vehicles per year, builds the VW Polo small sedan and Tiguan small crossover vehicle and two Skoda models.
VW opened a new body shop in Kaluga earlier this year and is erecting an €840 million engine plant nearby. The company insist it remains "fully committed" to the Russian market.
Last month VW's sales in Russia plunged 34% to 8,600 units, according to the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses. The brand's volume so far this year is 85,000 vehicles, down 18%. Skoda sales fell 5% to 6,800 units in August and are down 2% at 55,900 in the first eight months of the year.
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