Russians plan to build freight cars in Jelgava
19.09.2012, 10:42Russian machine builder UralVagonZavod has announced that it plans to open a freight car factory in Jelgava, reports news2biz LATVIA.
Jelgava, located 40 km from Riga, is shaping up to be the machine building powerhouse of Latvia. It already boasts the bus assembly plant Amo Plant.
What is even more important for UralVagonZavod's plans is Jelgava's industrial heritage. Jelgava is the site of the former (and somewhat confusingly named) Rigas Autobusu Fabrika (RAF), one of the few producers of vans and minibuses in the former Soviet Union.
UralVagonZavod now plans to revive production in RAF's old premises.
news2biz could not reach UralVagonZavod for a comment, but, following a meeting with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, the general director of UralVagonZavod Oleg Siyenko said that the plant could produce 2,500 freight cars a year. The company would be small by Russian standards, but a sizeable company for Latvia. It would create about 100 jobs, and Siyenko is convinced that there are enough skilled workers in Jelgava.
UralVagonZavod has not yet revealed how much it plans to invest in the plant. It is estimated that the plant could start production in early 2013.
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