Beiqi Foton confirms Russian production plans

China’s largest commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturer by volume, Beiqi Foton Motor, has confirmed its intention to build a Russian production facility, which will also serve as its European headquarters. Xinhua News Agency reported that the new Moscow facility will manufacture light commercial vehicles (LCVs), pick-ups, vans, heavy-duty trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for European markets at the rate of 100,000 units per annum (upa). The Russian facility is part of Beiqi Foton’s on-going five-year plan, under which the automaker intends to have a manufacturing presence in fast-emerging economies including Russia, Brazil, Mexico, India and Thailand by 2015. (June 29, 2010)