The UAZ company has chosen to start assembling completely knocked down kits for SKD cars in Cuba. This decision follows a series of negotiations between the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant and Cuban businesses, as reported by Izvestia based on its own sources. The move marks a notable step in expanding UAZ’s manufacturing footprint beyond Russia and into the Caribbean market, signaling a pragmatic approach to regional production and supply chain localization. Izvestia’s reporting emphasizes that the Cuban partners are aligning with UAZ activities to establish a local assembly operation that can speed up delivery times and reduce import duties for regional customers. (Izvestia, internal source)
The initial batch of CKD car kits is planned for shipment to Cuba in the July to August 2023 window. The Cubans are said to be focusing on UAZ Profi models, including ambulances built on the Loaf platform, as part of the first wave of vehicles to reach the market. This alignment suggests a strategy to meet public service and emergency transportation needs in Cuba with a homegrown assembly process that leverages UAZ’s existing engineering. (Izvestia, internal source)
Looking beyond Cuba, UAZ has discussed potential export arrangements with other markets. As outlined in prior communications from UAZ, Bolivia has been identified as the first South American country to adopt ruble-based payments for deliveries of the domestic-brand vehicles. The shift toward ruble settlement is portrayed as a move to simplify transactions and strengthen financial ties with partners in the region, reflecting a broader effort to diversify currency risk and streamline cross-border commerce. (UAZ press materials, internal note)
In a separate development at the UAZ plant, there were reports of a strike among factory workers who were seeking wage improvements. Seven active participants were reported to have been detained by the local police within the Zasviyazhsky district of Ulyanovsk as part of the enforcement actions connected to the labor dispute. The incident underscores ongoing labor relations considerations at UAZ, which the company typically addresses through negotiations with employee representatives and local authorities. (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zasviyazhsky district, internal report)