Astana Motors shifts to full-cycle CKD production of eco-friendly buses
Kazakhstan’s Astana Motors has reached the new development stage of Hyundai Trans Auto plant manufacturing specialized commercial machinery for utility enterprises and private organizations.
Reanimobiles, buses, fire trucks, water trucks, tow trucks, cargo trucks – thousands of vehicles for everyday life and work are produced at Hyundai Trans Auto plant.
The plant was started in 2011 by Astana Motors and Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Company.
In 10 years, Hyundai Trans Auto significantly strengthened its position on the market. A professional generation is formed here. Engineers, designers, process engineers, electricians, gas welders: 150 qualified employees. The machinery manufactured in Kazakhstan has been tested and duly appreciated at home and in the neighboring countries.
Hyundai Trans Auto plant. Hyundai County bus body welding shop: personal archive of the company’s press service
During the first five years of operation, Hyundai Trans Auto increased the local content in the production from 5 to 30% through welding, painting of Hyundai County bus bodies and components with domestic attached equipment.
In 2016, Hyundai Trans Auto became the official MAZ dealer in Kazakhstan by mastering the welding and painting of truck cabins. The next step was the manufacture of bed trucks, refrigerator and industrial vans and other vehicles.
Hyundai Trans Auto plant. MAZ cabin welding shop: personal archive of the company’s press service
Not everybody in the world history of machine building had their own full-cycle production facility from the start. The technical progress in the car industry is gradual, from semi knocked down to completely knocked down assembly. The personnel, export and investment potential increases as the enterprise evolves.
“Hyundai Trans Auto plant was built from scratch. We started with semi knocked down assembly and developed the manufacturing process, studying the new areas in details, mastering welding and painting for each model. It is a long and labor-intensive process. With time, we gathered enough experience, improved our competences and gained trust of our clients”, says Beknur Nesipbayev, General Director of Astana Motors.
Since 2019, Hyundai Trans Auto is the official distributor for production and sale of Golden Dragon passenger vehicles in Kazakhstan. Euro 5 buses are already running in Almaty, Shymkent, Karaganda and Aktobe. The carriers call reliability, safety, comfort, eco-friendliness and efficiency of operation as the main advantages of these buses.
Kazakhstan. Golden Dragon electric bus: personal archive of the company’s press service
Considering the increasing demand for Golden Dragon, Astana Motors is expanding the production capacities and building bus body welding and painting shop on the territory of 6 thous. sq. meters. At the moment, the design and estimate documentation has been approved and the equipment has been ordered.
“With shift to the full-cycle CKD production, Hyundai Trans Auto will create 100 additional jobs, ensure 51% localization and increase the volume of export to the CIS countries. For domestic companies, it is a new opportunity of profitable investment in business development – the best price to quality ratio and fast fleet renovation under the financial leasing program”, notes Beknur Nesipbayev.
The new territory of the plant will also host a large warehouse for spare parts. An additional advantage of the Golden Dragon buses made in Kazakhstan is the warranty and post-sales service. Moreover, Astana Motors arranges professional training for the bus depot mechanics in maintenance of the vehicles.
Let us recall that the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with BRK-Leasing JSC has developed a program for renovation of the rundown public transport in Kazakhstan. The program allows bus depots to purchase vehicles via financial leasing at 7% for the period of 7 years with the initial installment of 15% of the contract cost.
*The article was written with support from Astana Motors
Source: www.nur.kz