OREANDA-NEWS. October 19, 2009. SOLLERS Company, the official manufacturer of FIAT Ducato in Russia, announced its plans for further development of FIAT Ducato project. In particular, it was announced that by the end of the current year the company would have output the 15 thousandth Ducato. All in all, only in 2009 over 10,000 vehicles will be output, and in 2010, if the market situation is favorable, this figure can be doubled. FIAT Ducato sales have totaled 7,000 since the start of production and 5,000 just in 8 months of 2009.

Just within 1 year of FIAT Ducato production it has become a vehicle with the widest model range on the Russian LCV market segment. Currently the SOLLERS-Elabuga production facility in Tatarstan is outputting 22 modifications compared to 9 basic versions with which the project started. They include various types of vans, combi, minibuses as well as special versions developed by SOLLERS for the Russian market:  ambulances, schools buses, vehicles for gas, road and social services, etc. Furthermore, according to CEO of SOLLERS-Elabuga Adil Shirinov, a trial model of an AWD version of FIAT Ducato which is being developed in conjunction with acknowledged expert in AWD, a French Dangel will be output.

According to the results of 8 months of 2009 sales, three most popular modifications of FIAT Ducato are holding leading positions in their respective segments. They include a van (23% of the market, No. 1 among vans manufactured by Russian and foreign producers), a combi station wagon (11% of the market, No. 1 among foreign analogues), and a minibus (6% of the market, No. 1 among foreign analogues).  

Within the first year of sales SOLLERS has significantly increased production localization reaching the level of 32-43% with base versions and up to 49.9% with special modifications. The plans for 2010 entail further localization increase due to opening its own stamping facility at the supplier’s base at SOLLERS-Elabuga.

The number of awarded contracts for supplying FIAT Ducato to government agencies has grown. Today the production volume for these purposes has exceeded 3,000 vehicles half of which have been already shipped to customers. Among them are the Federal Biomedical Agency of Russia, the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Heath of Tatarstan, the Pension Fund, Roszdravnadzor, Rospotrebnadzor, Rostrud, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation, the Mayor’s Office of Moscow, regional ministries and departments as well as large private companies.

Also just within 1 year SOLLERS offered purchasing and ownership opportunities unique for the market of light commercial vehicles. Currently customers are offered a number of subsidized credit and leasing plans developed by SOLLERS-Finance, a holding’s subsidiary. Furthermore, SOLLERS announced that the company is ready to take on obligations of the fleet outsourcing. Such services are offered by a new subsidiary SOLLERS-Partner for private companies and government, educational, medical and other organizations alike. SOLLERS-Partner provides comprehensive solutions enabling to build a new fleet quickly which will meet all needs of a business as well as convenient services enabling to address any tasks concerning day-to-day operation of corporate vehicles efficiently and effectively (fuel cards, insurance, registration, maintenance, etc.).

According to CEO of SOLLERS-Elabuga Adil Shirinov, such significant outcomes of the project during the first year of production can be credited to the whole collective of the company. “Nowadays customers associate SOLLERS with a full range of services, which is a unique achievement for the LCV segment. It is the only company on the Russian market which offers a customer factory production of any customized modification, tuning of vehicles in the shop of special ranges, a great number of financing schemes of purchasing and ownership, including long-term lease. Such are the main values of the project which we are going to develop further by expanding the range of our services”, Mr. Shirinov noted.