MINSK, 21 January (BelTA) - Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko examined the progress in the reconstruction works at the bus factory as he visited Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) on 21 January, BelTA has learned.
Aleksandr Lukashenko inspected the model range of MAZ passenger vehicles and toured the main assembly sites. The head of state emphasized that if products are of high quality, they will sell despite the great competition in the market. Otherwise, even lower prices will not help.
“We have built this site from scratch. All the equipment has been installed and is operating properly. The staff has been recruited: 1,223 people will work here. We expect to reach full capacity by 1 January 2026,” MAZ Director General Valery Ivankovich said.
“You have done a great job,” Aleksandr Lukashenko praised the production site. Aleksandr Lukashenko compared the technological process to aircraft production, because bus making is a very delicate and skilled work.
“This building is 40,000 square meters. This is where the entire technological process will take place, from the first element we cut to the finished bus. Now we have separate areas for each stage of the process. When the reconstruction is completed, we will work like all the world's companies. This will be a world-class production,” Valery Ivankovich said. “We have three assembly lines here, which allow us to produce three types of buses simultaneously. It was impossible earlier."
“Do the world's companies operate that way or do they have automated processes?” the head of state asked.
“Automation is possible when there are two conditions: uniformity and volume. We have thought this matter through. If we narrow our specialization, we will install robots. The possibilities allow us to do so,” the head of the enterprise explained.
Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out the production of preparatory materials at the enterprise. For example, Molodechno Pipe Plant, which will soon start producing new types of products, supplies non-circular pipes to the enterprise. According to the president, this project could be included in the state investment program.
“We will need such metal products, there is a shortage of them already. So here is another project. We do not need to invent any projects for the state investment program: here it is. We need to go deeper. As soon as we come to the point that we need iron ore, we will look for deposits outside the country, invest money and jointly produce billets. I do not want to name them, but there are already countries that are already implementing such projects. But we have not reached this point yet. As soon as we do, I will tell you where we will create something. This is the way to go deeper, rather than inventing some new technologies or products,” said the Belarusian leader.
During the meeting with the workers of the enterprise, Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that his visit to the bus factory is a kind of a test to see whether the production facilities and specialists are ready to work. The grand opening of the new bus factory will take place later, before the 80th anniversary of the Victory Day
“By May you have to put things here in order. If you invite me, I will be happy to come. We will cut the ribbon together,” the head of state said.
In 2023, MAZ launched an innovative project to renovate the bus factory, build a new production facility and increase production capacity to 3,000 vehicles per year.
The project envisages the establishment of three automated production lines for passenger vehicles, the construction of diagnostic, adjustment and delivery centers for buses, a specialized welding, preparatory and engineering workshop, and the creation of a warehousing facility. The total investment costs exceed Br300 million. The bus factory is scheduled to be put into operation by April 2025. The project is expected to double MAZ's passenger vehicle production capacity, ensure the development of a new generation of passenger vehicles, increase its export potential to 1,500 units per year and create 331 new high tech jobs.
In 2024, MAZ produced more than 13,100 vehicles, including almost 2,000 passenger vehicles, which was up by 12% over 2023. MAZ also exported 8,800 units last year.
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