RUSSIA/GERMANY: VW wants major role in Russia’s economy

2 November 2009 | Source: just-auto.com editorial team

Volkswagen's Russian subsidiary Volkswagen Group Rus wants to be the first foreign company included in the Russian government's list of some 300 companies that are integral to the economy, RBC Daily, a Moscow-based business newspaper, reported on Monday.

The newspaper, citing a VW Rus spokesperson, said the company held talks with first deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov at the end of October. A final decision had yet to be made and Moscow was waiting for VW Rus to submit the necessary documents.

Companies selected as integral to the economy - a scheme launched at the end of 2008 - qualify to receive support from the government during the ongoing crisis.

VW began assembling the Golf in Kaluga in May.  The company has assembled VW Passat and Skoda Octavia cars from kits at the facility since late 2007. The plant has annual capacity for 150,000 units and last year assembled some 62,000 vehicles.