Business news

MINSK, 6 May (BelTA) – The construction of the first stage of a new BelGee plant will be launched in late May 2015, BelTA learnt from the company’s press service.

“In late May we plan to start the first stage of the construction of a new plant with a groundbreaking ceremony preceding it,” the press service said.

The cost of the first stage of the plant with the production capacity of 60,000 vehicles per year (including the workshops for body welding, painting and assembling) will make up about $330 million. The first stage will be commissioned before 1 January 2017. “By that time we plan to localize the production by 30% and make it 50% by July 2018. If everything goes well, a decision can be taken in 2018 on the construction of the second stage and doubling the production capacity, i.e. up to 120,000 cars per year,” the press service noted.

In October 2011 the Industry Ministry of Belarus signed a memorandum of understanding in car manufacturing with the Chinese company Geely. The private joint-stock company BelGee was set up in December 2011. Among the investors of the project are BelAZ, Geely and the joint Belarusian-Chinese company Soyuzavtotekhnologii. In February 2013 the company assembled the first car. The sales were launched in March 2013. BelGee dealer centers were opened in all oblast centers and big cities of Belarus. BelGee produces about 40 cars on a daily basis. The enterprise can assemble 10,000 cars per annum at its top capacity.