“I’m ready to give You a place in the cab of the race truck, - said the World Champion of Off-road rallies Vladimir Chaghin to Alexei Subbotin, the editor-in-chief of the catalogue “The Vehicle of the World: off-road trucks, commercial vehicle, superstructures”, giving the first prize of the automobile plant, - but only after the finish in Dakar."

KAMAZ special correspondent Olga Erashova tells about the third day of work of the 6th Russian International Motor Show in Moscow:

First, about the celebratory opening of Motor Show-2003. The guests of honour and the organizers of the Show appeared in front of the entrance to the exhibition hall at 11 a.m. sharp. There were the Chairman of the State Duma Gennady Seleznev, the Minister of Science, Industry and Technologies, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of KAMAZ Inc. Ilya Klebanov, vice-mayor of Moscow Valery Shantsev , the General Secretary of OICA Ive van der Srtaaten and others. Greeting the participants and the visitors, Gennady Seleznev said that, no doubt, Russian Motor Show stimulates domestic auto producers to introduce new models more actively. As an example, the speaker mentioned the family of KAMAZ “Mustang “ and new trucks on the basis of their chassis. The guests of high rank showed special interest to the exposition of KAMAZ. Oleg Morozov, the leader of the Duma group “Regions of Russia”, was among the visitors of KAMAZ stand. He confirmed, that he asked the popular singer Alsou to give a free concert in Naberezhnye Chelny, which took place on the 31st of August. “It is my gift to the auto city in honour of the holiday – the Day of the Republic’, - said the delegate.

Meanwhile, the accredited journalists gathered in press-centre of the exhibition complex to get the first hand information from Sergei Kogoghin and managers of his team. His deputies Irek Gumerov ( auto components), Vassil Kayumov (small car), the General Director of NefAZ Inc. Raif Malikov and KAMAZ chief designer Danis Valeev also answered questions, although Sergei Kogoghin was to bear the main “axial load”.

“This year is rather successful for the producers, - he said, - although the prices for metal almost reached the world level. But we are not going to change our plans, and, falling back on the reserves, we’ll compensate the increase of the production expenses. It is planned to receive not less than 12 millions of after-tax profit this year. We reached the 8% of growth of production volume, in comparison with last year and we mean to “lock in” this position. If, according to the results of 2002, KAMAZ possessed 29 % of domestic market in its class of vehicle, then by July of 2003 our share increased up to 35 %. In the future, we claim to half of the Russian and CIS market.”

The journalists asked about the opportunity to renew the delivery of KAMAZ trucks to Iraq, in connection with the gradual normalization of the situation in this country. It was declared, that KAMAZ is ready to implement the signed contracts, three fourth of which are already approved by UN. But, to all appearances, the return to the Iraqi market will be not earlier than next year. The solution of the problem depends on the results of the meeting of USA and Russian Presidents, where this question is to be raised. The planned volume of exports of KAMAZ trucks this year, without Iraq, is 4, 5 thousand units, so the schedule of delivery is being carried out. “ We also keep on creating the built – up production of our trucks in Egypt, - said Sergei Kogoghin. – But today, we coordinate some moments. We have found the partner, who is ready to invest our project. Think, we’ll succeed in Egypt. The investment loan of KAMAZ is signed, it will be directed to the introduction of the corresponding programs. We work with “Zenit” bank.

There were a lot of questions especially about the development of the model range of tucks and engines of KamAZ. The Director General and the Chief Designer informed the journalists, the work over the new cab for trucks continues. Its last variant, that has passed test, satisfies the designers in the sphere of safety requirements not enough. But after the elimination of defects, KAMAZ will start the serial production of the new cab this year. First of all the main road tractors will be equipped with it.

As for the new ecological levels of “Euro” standards, the trucks with carrying capacity of 20 t and more are equipped only with “Euro-2” engines. But the customer is not ready to the increase of the share of such trucks, although KAMAZ company service is able to sustain the total changing to this level from the beginning of the next year.

The cowl KAMAZ appeared due to the customers’ requests and is aimed to extend the model range of trucks. First of all, it is created for the civil, not military needs. The production volume of cowl trucks and assembling with alternative engines depends on market. There can be, for example, “Cummins” or “Caterpillar” engines. During the first time, KAMAZ could produce from 50 to 100 units of such trucks per month. Also small lots of main-road tractors KamAZ 5460 with air suspension are produced. Here KAMAZ faces the lack of heavy axles for their production. The delivery of this kind of assemblies from Bulgaria is provided for bus production from the 1st of September. The organization of joint production of various bus components is also topical. “Yesterday, during our meeting with the Director General of MAZ Valentin Gurinovich, the following resume was made: some of us have to invest the existing projects, otherwise, these productions should take place at all plants, that would be very expensive for them”

It was mentioned, that there are clear and mutually acceptable cooperation between KAMAZ and Russian Ministry of Defense, that caused the growth of orders of trucks for several times.

There is the alliance with “Severstahl”; the agreements are signed, the part of them is about the development of storage production. KAMAZ made steps to cooperate with ZIL more closely, it was approved by the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov. That’s how Sergei Kogoghin commented the cooperation with the Moscovites: “Our main interest is to increase the metallurgical production of KAMAZ. And we are inclined to be at the market, where ZIL production is famous, and our exhibit at the Motor Show 2003 – the truck of low carrying capacity 4307 – proves that.” The substantial press – conference was finished unexpectedly and unusual. Instead of the leaders of KAMAZ, the TV star Nikholai Fomenko appeared in front of the journalists and conducted the lottery by their visit cards. The 3d prize – the uniform of KAMAZ – Master team – has won the deputy Editor –in – Chief of “ Sem’ verst” newspaper Vladimir Simakhov (Tolyatti), the 2d prize - press-tour to KAMAZ Inc – has got Sergei Garnov, the editor of business department of “Business People” economic magazine. The 1st prize – the tour to the finish of marathon rally “Paris – Dakar 2004” – has won above mentioned Alexei Subbotin, the editor – in – chief of “The Vehicle of the World” catalogue.

After the press-conference, the Director General and top-managers of KAMAZ went to the KAMAZ stand, where Ilya Klebanov, Valery Shantsev and other members of Russian and Moscow Representatives have arrived. That day the Minister of Economic and Industry of Tatarstan Alexei Pakhomov and the Head of the Administration of Naberezhniye Chelny Ildar Khalikhov have visited the exposition. On the 28th of August one more lottery took place at the Motor Show. The small size car was raffled by the entrance- tickets.