GAZelle Next Assembly in Argun Expands Local Production and Job Opportunities
The agreement to organize the new assembly line was reached earlier this year and the recent update confirms the Chechenavto plant in Argun has begun assembling the GAZelle Next. The startup of this line has added about 100 jobs to the Chechenavto operation, signaling a substantial growth push for regional manufacturing in the area.
According to Andrey Sofonov, Managing Director of GAZ, the newly installed line is designed to be versatile. It can support a range of configurations for both freight and passenger transport. In addition, the system is capable of producing school buses, ambulances, housing equipment, and municipal service vehicles. This flexibility is intended to help meet diverse transportation needs within the public, private, and social sectors.
Historically, GAZ maintained a presence in the region primarily through equipment supply, including commercial models and buses. With the launch of GAZelle production at Chechenavto, regional leadership has spoken about plans to accelerate a broader car cluster initiative. The strategy includes expanding the model lineup, enabling local assembly of buses, and integrating social sector superstructures that can be mounted on GAZ chassis. The move aims to build a more self-sufficient local manufacturing ecosystem while strengthening the supply chain for varied vehicle types.
It is worth noting that Chechenavto’s recent activities included close collaboration with AVTOVAZ, with a restart of some operations in an anti-crisis configuration in June. This renewed focus on local production underscores a broader push to diversify regional automotive capabilities and stimulate employment, supplier networks, and vocational training within the Chechen Republic.