KamAZ plans to roll out a hydrogen electric bus in 2024, built with a mix of Russian and allied-country components. This update came from Sergey Kogogin, the head of the Chelny-based automaker, during the Comtrans-2023 expo. He outlined the company’s strategy to expand an independent component base that can substitute parts sourced from Western manufacturers.
The company is actively assembling an alternative supply chain to reduce reliance on European suppliers. This involves sourcing and engineering critical components domestically and from friendly nations in order to sustain production and improve resilience in the supply chain.
Earlier, KamAZ introduced the KamaAZ-6290 water truck, which incorporated imported parts for its initial build. Designers highlighted the vehicle’s 250-kilometer range and its environmental advantages, noting that it eliminates the need for a diesel heater in the passenger compartment to improve emissions and efficiency.
In December 2021, Kogogin spoke about KamAZ’s plans to deliver water buses to the Moscow Ministry of Transport by the end of 2022, signaling a move toward municipal deployments that leverage KamAZ expertise in heavy vehicles and specialized transport.
At Comtrans-2023 in Moscow, KamAZ, along with partners from GAZ, Ural, and MAZ, showcased new product lines aimed at reinforcing a domestic heavy-vehicle ecosystem and expanding the range of commercially available buses and trucks for public and industrial sectors.