Russian auto firm Gaz Group has commenced the production of Mitsubishi Pajero Sport frames at its Nizhny Novgorod site in Russia.
GAZ is implementing this project under an agreement with PCMA Rus, which is a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors.
As part of the agreement, OJSC GAZ will weld frames for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, apply the protective anticorrosive coat through phosphating and electrophoresis treatment, and supply frames to the conveyor of PCMA Rus assembly plant in Kaluga, Russia.
GAZ has also established and equipped a welding area by purchasing a semi-automotive welding machine and air cleaners and installing equipment for frame transportation along the welding jigs for the project.
The company put into operation a phosphating treatment line and modernized its current electrophoresis treatment line.
Mitsubishi Motors has provided welding jigs and checkout equipment for this project.
GAZ Group president Bo Inge Andersson said the launch of the frame production for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport at the Nizhny Novogorod site of GAZ Group speaks of the high level of competence at OJSC GAZ in automotive component production and is a milestone in automotive cluster development in the Nizhny Novogorod Region.
"We will continue developing the automotive component business and strengthen our competences in order to develop the GAZ," Andersson added.
In addition, GAZ has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MW, a wheels division of Italian group CLN, to establish a wheel disk manufacturing joint venture at the same plant.
This joint venture will see the production of steel stamped wheel disks, which will commence in 2015. The plant will have a capacity to produce 2.5 million wheels per annum.
Commenting on the MoU, Bo Andersson said that the joint production of wheels with MW is not just an upgrade of the wheel production at GAZ, but also new jobs and processes.
"GAZ Group has upgraded 75% of its vehicles for the last 3 years, launched production of new vehicle models, opened projects with the leading global automotive manufacturers, and we are developing production of automotive components," Andersson Added.
"It will allow us to provide modern components for our products and also produce high volumes for the outside market."
