LVIV – LAZ holding hopes to occupy a certain position on the Russian market with a new model - the Liner-141 bus for international transportation – which was presented on May 29 in Lviv, Chairman of the company's supervisory board, Ihor Churkin, has told the reporters.
"This is a bus for international transportation and for private carriers. We’re going to present it at the exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod. We believe that these models will take their position on the market, first of all, on the Russian market," he said at the presentation of the bus.
The cost of the bus is around Hr 550,000.
Churkin said that the new generation of Liner buses is meant for small and medium towns, and for private carriers.
"We want to return to the private transportation segment, and the Liner is a bus which should be a worthy rival to Turkish, Chinese and partially European manufacturers. There are no analogues at other manufacturers, Russia also does not have such buses, and we hope that our project will be success," he said.
The Liner-141 could be an alternative to worn-out vehicles, including those freight carrying vehicles re-equipped for passenger transportation, according to the company’s specialists.
Churkin said at the press conference that in addition, new models – LAZ-181 and LAZ-181NG – city buses consuming diesel fuel and gas – would be presented at the exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod.
Churkin said that the models could be used in Central Europe and the largest cities in Russia – Moscow and St. Petersburg.
"We’re switching to the highest class engines to occupy a position in Central Europe with the LAZ-181 and LAZ-181NG buses. The next stage of upgrade of passenger vehicles is being conducted there now, and we hope to join in the process. We’re in talks with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. The buses will be presented in Nizhny Novgorod and we hope to participate in tenders in Moscow and St. Petersburg," he said.
He said that LAZ should make CIS, Central European and Balkan markets into domestic markets for the company.
"We could be success if we occupy a certain share of the markets in many countries – in Central Europe, the Balkan states and the former Soviet Union countries. We should have 5-10% of the market in various classes of buses in each country," Churkin said.
