Hiroshi Okudo, Chairman of Toyota's Board of Directors, made a public statement yesterday for the first time confirming the company's preparations for building a plant in Russia, reports the Vedomosti newspaper. "Russia is the only large country where Toyota has no production facility thus far. We should therefore take more intensive efforts in this direction," said Mr. Okudo. The company has not as of yet adopted a final decision but has began looking to the site.
Experts approve of the Japanese car maker's intention. Indeed, foreign car making companies whose sales in Russia are far less impressive than Toyota's have already opened their production facilities in this country. Even competitors admit that Toyota's appearance on the Russian market will be very timely. "The Russian market is developing briskly. More than 1 million cars are sold here annually. As few as 6 other countries can boast such a figure," said Pavel Leshakov, press secretary of Avtotor, the company assembling some of the Kia, BMS, Land Rover and GM models. "The Japanese should hurry up or they will be late," he said.
An official from the Russian AvtoVAZ car manufacturer believes the opening of a Toyota plant in Russia would be good news for the country's automotive industry as many foreign component parts producers would appear on the Russian market following Toyota's lead.
