EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION BEGINS AT ASTANA MOTORS MULTI-BRAND PLANT

First batch of technical equipment delivered to the site on September, 10

Representatives of Automotive Engineering Corporation (PRC), the world leader in the supply of high-tech equipment, visit Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan multi-brand automotive plant.

The Chinese company top management makes their visit on the occasion of the first batch of equipment accepted at Astana Motors plant. Automotive Engineering Corporation engineers are to supervise the installation works. The Chinese corporation has been on the market for over 60 years and has implemented over 30 manufacturing projects all over the world. The company’s success stories include projects for all global automotive industry leaders including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Toyota, Jaguar, Land Rover, BYD, and many other.

Jia Sijun, President, Automotive Engineering Corporation, Li Shouxi and Wang Xiaolei, Vice Directors, and from Astana Motors, Maxim Tarassov, Director, Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan multi-brand plant have attended the equipment acceptance.

Jia Sijun, President, Automotive Engineering Corporation shares that about 300 containers with equipment have arrived at the plant on this day, and a total of 1,600 containers with equipment for welding, painting, and assembly shops are to be delivered.

“I would like to thank Astana Motors for choosing our company for equipping such a large plant. Today we can see how much has already been done by our Kazakhstani partners”, says Jia Sijun. “The equipment we are delivering to Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan is the most technologically advanced and state-of-the-art. It meets not only the technical requirements of the brands to be manufactured at this multi-brand plant, but also international standards.”

Maxim Tarassov, Director, Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan thanks the Chinese partners for cooperation and notes that Automotive Engineering Corporation professionals have been actively involved as early as at the plant design stage.

“Today we are accepting equipment for automated body distribution warehouse and chassis line for assembly shops. In November, we will be delivered 54 robots to be installed at the plant, and in December we are expecting control systems”, says Maxim Tarassov.

130 technicians and engineers from Automotive Engineering Corporation and about 1,000 Kazakhstani specialists will be engaged at Astana Motors multi-brand plant for the entire period of equipment installation and for commissioning. The installation will take place at different workshops concurrently, with a separate team working on each.

Construction of Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan full-scale multi-brand plant in Almaty Industrial Park has started in November 2022. Astana Motors is investing KZT 182B into implementation of this project, with 30 % from own funds and 70% from commercial borrowings. Today, the facility is at the final stage of construction (90 % complete).

Manufacturing area will make 209 tho. sq. m. The facility has two floors, each with height of 10.5 m. The ground floor will host a vehicle parts warehouse, assembly, and paint shops.

The first floor will host manufacture of bodies, for which an automatic distribution warehouse for 180 sets has been designed. In total, 54 robots will be installed at the plant. Astana Motors Manufacturing will have installed equipment for CKD assembly of 9 vehicle models including welding and painting. The painting shop will be fully automated.

Expected production capacity of the multi-brand plant is 90,000 CKD assembled units annually, where most of the vehicles manufactured at the Kazakhstan plant will be exported. Thus, Astana Motors plans to supply 40 % of the manufactured vehicles to the domestic market, while 60 % will be exported to CIS countries.

Construction is scheduled to be finished by Q4 2024. Equipment installation will continue through Q1 2025 followed by commissioning and pilot vehicle manufacture.

A pilot batch of 60 vehicles per model will be manufactured at production launch. Each vehicle will be thoroughly tested for strength of welded joints, and quality of coating and painting. The purpose of these tests is to set up the production processes and make the required adjustments to ensure the perfect quality of the finished product. Quality control will be integrated into all production stages with the direct involvement of brand owner representatives to warrant full compliance of manufactured cars with the highest standards.

After production launch, 3,600 people will be employed at the plant. Currently, we are hiring, and the plant will have 1,315 employees by January 2025, 2,469 employees by May 2025, and 3,600 employees by the end of 2025.

The staff will be provided with voluntary health insurance, free meals, and shuttle transportation. We will also be offering a continuous professional development program. Astana Motors co-operates with Kazakhstani technical universities in this area, and training rooms will be available at the plant.

In addition, the plant will offer a canteen with 1,100 seats, gym, football, basketball and volleyball courts, boxing ring, tatami, and a library. Recreational area for employees is to take one-fifth of the plant’s space.

Construction of the multi-brand plant is one of the important stages towards Astana Motors’ global goal to create a real industry, manufacture vehicle parts, and promote local content. Increased local content in manufacturing at Astana Motors facilities will boost development of Kazakhstani small and medium businesses in the area of mechanical engineering.