The Bogdan Corporation, one of the leading Ukrainian automakers, turned out 2,748 vehicles in the first half of this year, a 63.6 percent year-on-year decrease, the corporation's spokesman, Serhiy Krasulia, has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“This was associated with the plant in Cherkasy being idle until May
15 due to a lack of state support for automobile manufacturers and
mechanisms for their protection,” Krasulia said.
There were 1,078 cars and two commercial vehicles of the Bogdan make
produced in June, 71.1 percent more than the preceding month and 67.7 percent more
than in June of last year, he said.
“We note a positive trend after the introduction in April of a
special duty on automobile imports. This made it possible to resume the
plant’s work in May, load capacity, and retain jobs,” he said.
At the present time, negotiations are wrapping up on the production
of Lada Grantas, and negotiations are underway with China’s Great Wall
and Lifan, Krasulia said. Before this year is out, the corporation plans
to start making two models of the Chinese car JAC in Cherkasy.
Output of buses and trolleybuses at the corporation’s plant in Lutsk
amounted to 255 vehicles in January-June, a 9.3 percent year-on-year decrease.
Last month, production was up 56.5 percent month-on-month and 24.1 percent
year-on-year at 72 vehicles.
The industrial assets of Bogdan Corporation include the production of
cars in Cherkasy with a capacity of 120,000-150,000 cars (Lada, Hyundai
and cars under its own brand) and 6,000 buses and trolleybuses per year
in Lutsk.
The corporation produced 13,455 vehicles last year, down 36.2 percent from
2011, including 12,034 cars (down 40.5 percent), 876 commercial vehicles (up
34.8 percent), and 545 buses and trolleybuses (up 2.7 times).
