Mitsubishi Motors Europe has denied that a deal for a Russian assembly plant would be signed with the country’s economic development and trade ministry by 15 September.
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The Interfax news agency reported yesterday (7 August) that a ministry official had said deals would be signed for vehicle assembly with Mitsubishi and Hyundai by then.
“This, 15 September, is the deadline we set ourselves for signing commercial assembly deals in connection with our accession to the WTO. Some 15 agreements have already been signed and we plan to sign around 20 in all. Major agreements with Mitsubishi and Hyundai are being addressed right now,” Dmitry Levchenkov, the ministry’s deputy head of investment policy said, according to the news agency.
But MME spokesman Daniel Nacass said the Russian plant project was still under discussion and, as the company had several times earlier told just-auto, no decision was expected before the end of the year.
According to Interfax, Levchenkov said that Mitsubishi had not decided exactly where to assemble cars, but was “leaning towards St. Petersburg.” The region is already home to several other plants – Ford, Toyota and Nissan – either already building cars or under construction.
The news agency said Hyundai was looking at 10 sites, and would draw up a short list of regions by the end of August and be in a position to hold talks with local administrations in October-September.
Levchenkov also said that Hyundai planned to produce cars on its own, without Russian partners, Interfax noted.
He reportedly added that PSA Peugeot-Citroen was also yet to make a final choice and was considering sites in St. Petersburg and between Moscow and the Volga region.
Levchenkov also said an application from Chinese automaker Great Wall was still under consideration, and that the ministry had not yet cleared it, Interfax added.
