— Anatoly Dmitrievich, you were the governor of the Kaluga region from 2005 to 2020. Volkswagen, Volvo, Peugeot-Citroën, Mitsubishi plants were built under your direct supervision and even with your active participation, so that you know everything about the automotive industry. What do you think is the biggest problem right now?
“We all suddenly discovered that in the production of even the most prosaic components, parts and mechanisms we are so closely integrated into global cooperation that now all production chains in our country are being torn apart. If, in collaboration with global manufacturers, we thought at least a little bit about the fact that these chains could one day be cut, we might be more cautious.
Remember how it used to be. When GAZ, VAZ, KamAZ and Moskvich were built, almost all of these plants were self-sufficient in terms of full production cycle. That is, almost everything was produced in the same location – with the exception of tires, glasses, specific electronics. For example, tires have been produced and are still being produced at KamAZ.
And in recent years, when we kind of re-created our auto industry, we went for collaboration, even if there was a full production cycle, so that our cars would be competitive. In a normal situation this is the right approach, there is nothing wrong with that.
But China, for example, did not do this. In addition, especially recently, China is under constant or threat of sanctions. Therefore, almost all their cooperation in the country is closed.
Why did we allow it?
– We had a different algorithm, a different approach – because we didn’t prepare for sanctions. So whatever you assume now is a problem. To sew a suit, you need to buy fabric and accessories somewhere. To make a car – so now we can’t even produce our simple UAZ without imported parts.
An engine factory burned down in KamAZ – and instead of recovering it faster, they decided it was easier to buy engines in China or from Mercedes. And transmit nodes are also needed.
Even at AvtoVAZ, the localization for some models turned out to be lower than that of the Kaluga-based Volkswagen. And so on. As a result, we got what we have now: they turned away from us – and that was it, companies stopped or worked intermittently.
– What must we do?
“Clearly it is impossible to follow the path of regression. Some people suggest making engines with carburetors. This is of course nonsense – no one will do this, there is no need to take us back to the stone age.
If we produce cars without airbags, we have to change the legislation. So that we at least tell the traffic police that airbags are no longer technically checked. We are significantly reducing the security of citizens. In my opinion this is an illogical decision.
Is the path of progress possible?
– Yes. We must follow the path of China. What did China do? It was pressured from all sides, so the Chinese just didn’t give a damn about anyone and only did what was right for them. At every step.
We are also under pressure from all sides today. Forget WTO membership. But we still coordinate every sneeze with the EAEU. I myself have participated in this more than once, helping companies and ministries: important decisions need to be coordinated with Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus … These approvals take years!
Today I have to say: stop, friends. We have force majeure. Let’s get out of the situation quickly. Corporate espionage has not been canceled. The Chinese have been doing this for a long time. So why should we be ashamed?
No one canceled the copy either. So I say let’s not be shy and start copying!
— Do we have a technological basis for copying complex parts and assemblies?
— Our biggest problem is the lack of means of production. This is a major problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. We need to somehow re-equip our most important businesses – we need a new fleet of machinery.
Over the last 10-15 years, we’ve pulled up the defense industry quite a bit – everything is fine with the machinery there. But how is it used? I often travel to factories. I come to a factory or a research and production association – and I see a state-of-the-art machine for many millions of rubles or dollars. And around – nobody! Why, I ask, the machine is not working? Answer: We need it a few times a month.
– And what do you propose?
— I think we could create something like manufacturing clusters by grouping such underutilized manufacturing facilities into separate technology centers, centers of competence that would fulfill orders from outside companies. That is, if these means of production are bought with state money, then at the moment they have to solve the most important state tasks.
Let’s say that an automotive industry urgently needs to prototype a part and the necessary machine or processing line is only available from a defense company. This means that the car factory should be able to place such an order easily and simply in comparable technological clusters with a strong production base.
– Where do you start?
— You have to start in the narrowest spots. For example, from the production of on-board computers, control units.
It’s not just about cars. Take the construction of roads and businesses. Most construction equipment is imported. When control units on all these Caterpillars and Volvos start to fail, and they’re complex, what are we going to do? The same goes for hydraulic drives – this is another bottleneck.
And there is no need to think that it is better to follow the path of simplification. If we remove all the electronics from these graders and lower and raise the blade with levers, we will never achieve the evenness required for SNIPs and GOSTs. The recipients of the way will come with their rulers – and they will not accept the way. Either it is skewed, or the asphalt concrete mixture is of the wrong quality – and now it is also prepared automatically. They will say yes, offenses, let’s start a criminal case.
Until now, everyone has chosen the path of “cannibalism.” But disassembling a spare parts device is a road to nowhere.
Does this only apply to the automotive industry?
— Do you think a similar situation exists only in the automotive industry? Yes, it is in almost all sectors. Take food production, for example. After all, all modern processing and packaging lines are imported or made in our country with a significant degree of import dependency.
And when you approach the issue of investing money in manufacturing, you still need to think carefully about what exactly to implement in the first place. After all, some time will pass and all this food production requires spare parts, repairs, modernization – where can I get all this? So maybe government money should be invested in this industry first? Without new cars we will live for several years, but without food – hardly.
– But if you still return to the automotive industry – where do you start?
— From the same point of view, from critical positions. And don’t sprinkle over trifles, but think strategically. If we cannot immediately recruit all brands, we must do so selectively.
And if we have problems with cars – because there are engines, gearboxes, transmissions – let’s make electric cars right away.
We are already producing traction batteries that can be used in electric vehicles. If you increase the volume of their production, the cost will be lower. We have raw materials for batteries, we have cooperation with China. We can do everything!
But the means of production are only half the battle. We need specialists, knowledge – how to say fashionable, competences …
— Everything is correct! But you don’t have to give up here either.
First, we haven’t lost everything yet. We have competences. And by copying we will inevitably improve our competences. Now we need to support engineering. Restore design firms where they were liquidated as unnecessary.
I have been to many companies – they are ready to work. Including – in cooperation with the Chinese business community. While we still have the opportunity to work with the Chinese, I hope this opportunity will continue in the future.
I believe that working with world-class specialists should be a national task. We need smart minds. And in return, we must offer high salaries, security guarantees, citizenship, the opportunity to bring families of specialists to Russia, and so on.
— Anatoly Dmitrievich, to sum it up: do you think our car industry has a chance?
— Doubtless! We have every chance. You just need to use them correctly.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read in Yandex.Zen
What can we do to save the auto industry and related industries? Where to start? – the editor-in-chief of the magazine “Behind the wheel” Maxim Kadakov discussed the situation with Senator Anatoly Artamonov, who represents the Kaluga region in the Federation Council.
Senator Anatoly Artamonov: We must stop being shy and start copying!