Russian automaker Sollers announced that the Zavolzhsky Motor Plant (ZMZ) will begin manufacturing gearboxes on its industrial site, a development confirmed in a company message received by socialbites.ca. The move marks a significant expansion of Sollers’ precision engineering capabilities, aligning with broader regional strategies to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imported components amid ongoing shifts in the automotive sector. The factory plan represents not only an increase in local manufacturing capacity but also a signal of long‑term commitment to maintain critical drivetrain components within the Russian industrial ecosystem, ensuring closer coordination between design, testing, and production cycles as market demands evolve.
In the second quarter of 2024, serial production of a six‑speed manual transmission is scheduled to commence. Sollers Transmission Production will handle both the assembly and rigorous testing of these gearboxes, with a clear roadmap to localize subsequent stages of manufacture, including casting and machining of crankcases. The strategic localization is poised to broaden the domestic footprint across the component chain, potentially enabling further specialization in precision casting, heat treatment, and machining processes. As the project unfolds, there is indication that all major subassemblies of manual transmissions could eventually be produced within Russia, reinforcing a vertically integrated approach that enhances quality control, reduces lead times, and fosters technical exchange between suppliers and the company’s own engineering teams.
Projected output for Sollers Transmission Production is set to reach 7 thousand units in 2024, with a bold plan to scale up to 50 thousand units per year as demand grows and production efficiencies mature. This expansion is designed to support Sollers’ line of light commercial vehicles and its UAZ product family, creating a more cohesive portfolio where driveline hardware is closely matched to vehicle platforms and testing regimes. The investment envelope for the project surpasses 600 million rubles, a figure that encompasses new tooling, facility upgrades, quality assurance systems, and workforce development. In tandem with capital expenditure, the initiative is expected to generate around 100 new jobs, contributing to regional employment and offering opportunities for skilled technicians and engineers to advance within a domestic manufacturing footprint.
A related note in the automotive arena indicates Valeo, a former auto parts manufacturer, has announced its exit from the Russian market, a move that reshapes supplier relationships and procurement strategies for local manufacturing programs. This transition underscores the importance of building resilient, domestic supply chains and highlights how industry realignments can influence decisions to localize more components and expand in‑house capabilities. The evolving landscape, including Sollers’ gearbox project and Valeo’s strategic repositioning, reflects a broader push toward self‑ sufficiency in key drivetrain technologies, with ramifications for downstream vehicle assembly, aftersales servicing, and regional industrial policy across Russia and neighboring markets.