Due to growing demand in the Russian market, Ford Sollers – Ford’s JV operation in Russia – says it has launched a massive hiring campaign in Tatarstan to introduce a second shift at the company’s plant at Elabuga and fill vacancies at other sites.
More than 700 additional workers will be hired by the the end of the year in Tatarstan. The second shift at Elabuga plant will be introduced in December this year for the first time since 2013. Blue-collar workers will be hired to operate Ford Kuga, Ford Explorer and Ford Transit production lines
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To support recruitment Ford Sollers launches an educational project to introduce a dual education system (theory&practice) in the regions of presence and improve the model of personnel training for the automotive industry. The pilot project will be implemented in Tatarstan.
Mass recruitment of workers will begin in October. The bulk of new employees are blue-collar workers that will be involved in all areas of production at Elabuga plant – from welding and painting to quality control. Currently, the facility located in Alabuga special economic zone produces – adapted to the Russian weather and road conditions – Ford Kuga, the 7-seat flagship Ford Explorer SUV and light commercial vehicles of the Ford Transit family.
Introduction of the second shift will help to meet the growing demand for the models produced at the plant in 2017 and next year.
Ford Sollers says that sales of the cars produced in Elabuga have increased by 53% in 2017.
“Development of SUV and LCV line-ups is the core of our strategy now. We have increased the production of such models as a result of our efforts to strengthen our position in these segments in 2017. We are committed to growing our market share in 2018 as well. Besides that, one of our strategic goals is the development of the professional and cohesive team. I am glad that we now have the opportunity to increase this team, share our advanced competence in automotive production and open new career prospects for our compatriots,” said Adil Shirinov, president and CEO of Ford Sollers.
The Russian car market has been in crisis since the collapse of energy prices sent the economy into recession, but it has shown signs of recovery this year – albeit a recovery from a depeleted base. Ford has reiterated many times that it is committed to the Russian market and industry due to its positive long-term growth prospects.
