Belarusian automaker MAZ eager to make over 11,000 vehicles this year

Aleksandr Ignatyuk said: “One can say we are already technologically independent from sanctions. An antisanctionary lineup of vehicles with components now manufactured in Belarus, Russia, and other friendly countries has been created. This lineup features both passenger vehicles and trucks. On the whole, if we compare the average monthly output in H1 2021 when there were no sanctions to the average monthly output in H1 2022, we see an increase albeit a small one. Respectively we expect a higher output this year and intend to make over 11,000 vehicles.”

Speaking about profitable contracts, the executive noted MAZ shipped about 900 new gas-powered buses to St Petersburg in H1 2022. The buses had been designed on a tight schedule.

Aleksandr Ignatyuk went on saying: “We now continue developing electric vehicles. A new electric truck was presented at an expo dedicated to Minsk City Day some time ago. Apart from that, we continue developing versions of the MAZ 303 electrobus, which are unaffected by sanctions. We are opening a new niche in the development of micro buses and will ship the first batch of ambulances to the Healthcare Ministry by the end of the year.”

The executive also mentioned that MAZ intends to expand the lineup of passenger vehicles by implementing a project meant to increase the output capacity of the bus division. “We are now clearing the site where the construction of the manufacturing wing will begin,” he concluded.

Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) is one of Belarus' largest mechanical engineering companies. It specializes in making heavy-duty trucks, special-purpose vehicles, buses, trolleybuses, and trailing units. MAZ vehicles are compliant with the environmental standards Euro-3, 4, 5, and 6. The company makes a total of over 500 models and 3,000 modifications of tractor units, dropside trucks, and chassis for mounting various kinds of equipment.