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Post by bescheid on May 30, 2006 11:42:46 GMT -7
As foreign auto makers continue to boost their operations, in a nation whose emerging middle class is shunning domestic produced models. In this case, it is VW.
DE-NEWS@LISTSERV.DFN.DE
- VW Builds Factory in Russia
>From the middle of next year on, VW will get the brands VW and Skoda
assembled in the Russian city Kaluga. Today in Moscow, VW-leader Pischetsrieder and the Russian minister of economics, Gref, signed treaties for the new factory. The company from Wolfsburg will invest altogether 370 million Euro in the new factory. From 2009 on, up to 3,500 employees shall take care of the whole production of 115,000 cars per year. Later a compact car shall be produced, which is designed only for the Russian market. VW strives for a market share of 10% in Russia. At the moment the company stands at less than 3%.
Charles
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Post by jimpres on May 31, 2006 6:51:18 GMT -7
Charles,
So the name will be CVW........ comrade VW
Jim
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Post by bescheid on May 31, 2006 7:55:02 GMT -7
Jim
How do you come up with these priceless quips? 8-)That was so funny....
Perhaps they will be able to provide some work gloves and work station for Eric.
Charles
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Post by jimpres on May 31, 2006 12:31:16 GMT -7
Charles,
Ich weiss nicht. How would Eric like to work in Siberia?
Could be profitable for him.
Jim
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Post by bescheid on May 31, 2006 13:43:10 GMT -7
Jim
It is such a temptation, but, I may not speak of Eric whilst he is not in attendance to defend him self. I am very sure he is a very nice young man in private, perhaps surrounded by many of the Russian and Ukrainian beauties. But, he is also a very naive young man living in a fools Paradise. For he has little idea of the real world that is around him, and, of the reality of West European money that is encroaching within his observed/imagined world.
For as we speak, a regional Governor, Anatoly Aitamanova, has made an appeal to the Business leadership in Amsterdam (Pieter's front yard) for investments in Kaluga. This on the strength of VW construction/development of this manufacturing facility.
The other situation of which I did not disclose (if I was so smart, why am I not rich) was this. The financing of the VW venture, this is with German bank capital and the Russians providing the security investment. If the venture should fold, then by default, the Russian security provision will go into equity trust default. Means the German banks will recap the loss and what ever is left over from cost, will be recovered by the Russian bank(s) that had forwarded the original deposit of trust.
The other situation is this: VW is not just a manufacturer of transportation as with Opel, Ford (of Germany) and others. It (VW) is Germany. And as such, the Bund will not easily let this icon go into international embarrassment.
It would appear that also the Russians are very well much aware of this. As the venture appears to be well looked after.
The Russians have a win win situation here. If it becomes screwed up, it would have to be some thing very monumental that is beyond the will and means of mortal man.
Auto manufacturing is similar to schools of fisch, if the fish have always swam in schools, then they must be very smart, but, then, if they are so smart, why do bigger fish eat smaller fish....They can not be smarter, then they must be bigger and hungrier.
A silly saying from the pins of fools: Age does not protect from foolishness. {Alter schützt vor Torheit nicht}
Charles
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Post by Eric on Jun 1, 2006 6:34:52 GMT -7
I think it will be good for everyone involved to open a VW plant in Russia. VW cars are already popular in St. Petersburg and Moscow, but outside of the capitals, they're not seen as much.
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Post by Eric on Jun 1, 2006 6:35:35 GMT -7
Jim Perhaps they will be able to provide some work gloves and work station for Eric. I'm a philologist, and I know nothing about cars. The most I could do at a VW plant is criticise the poor grammar of the workers.  |
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Post by Eric on Jun 1, 2006 6:36:44 GMT -7
Charles, Ich weiss nicht. How would Eric like to work in Siberia? Could be profitable for him. Jim Actually, it would probably be profitable, because major companies still do pay much higher wages to workers in Siberia than elsewhere. (Gazprom, for example, has single-handedly resurrected several Siberian cities that were in danger of totally failing.) I suppose I could learn to live with the climate. But, as I said, I would really rather not manufacture cars for a living. |
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Post by Eric on Jun 1, 2006 6:39:00 GMT -7
Bescheid - You're right - I am afraid of money, be it American, Russian, or Western European, simply because I have never had much of it to begin with. And considering my profession, I never will have much of it! In Russia, only the criminals get rich, and the honest people continue to get poorer. In America, you have to work your butt off and your fingers to the bone just to make any kind of a decent living. I think only in northern and western Europe are things tolerable, but only at great expense to the governments.
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Post by bescheid on Jun 1, 2006 8:04:25 GMT -7
Eric
I was very impressed with your intrinsic thoughts. Your entire life is in front of you for you to live out. Your hopes and dreams, what you wish to accomplish, is all in front you. I am very confident that you will achieve all that you wish to.
You are right with your views of the auto manufacturing, if you are not a auto person,then it is not right for you to be unhappy working at a endless job with nothing at the end of the day, except being tired.
The Auto industry is comprised of an over whelming variety of needs. Auto production is a tremendous consumer of talent, skills, materials, various types of research,parts/materials suppliers. From concept to out the door roll out of the completed auto, to the out let for public consumption. It is first and foremost, a people business. Every person in the chain, is important and counted.
The quality of the finished product, is in direct relationship to the sum of its parts.
The money is only a part of the rewards, it is the challenge that is foremost. The ability to use beyond what a person believes they have the capacity to do, and then go beyond those boundaries of what you had first thought only possible.
As a people business, it takes people of many fields of endeavor, educational levels in various professional areas to keep the pace at an acceptance of requirement.
For instance, as only a very small portion of this chain, is the need for researchers of market, product researchers, industrial engineering, environmental professionals, human resources, materials and environmental specialist, the list goes on and on.
The assembly line folks are of course the cutting edge of progress, but, it takes an army of different talent in the auto manufacturing process.
Then testing: A product is only as good as to the purpose it serves. Testing is not confined to the various in house product non-destructive/destructive testing. The real actual testing is how well the product performs in consumer use. It takes a special type of professional researcher to analysis and determine the weaknesses of part failure and part life expectations.
Eric, you are an exceptional person, comprised of talents, abilities,training that is unique only to your self. The problems is this, there is a position that needs you, but must wait until you help it to locate you.
Even though Volkswagen is of German name and origin. Once manufacturing begins, it is a Russian auto, built with Russian materials, Russian hands. What you help create, is purchased and used by your fellow Russian folks. It becomes part of Russia.
Charles
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Post by Eric on Jun 3, 2006 4:29:06 GMT -7
I'm honestly amazed (unfortunately) that there is any Russian automotive industry at all. In European Russia, European (especially German) cars predominate, and in eastern Russia, it's almost all Japanese cars with the steering wheel on the wrong side. (A friend of mine in Vladivostok said it's almost impossible to find a Russian-made car in the city anymore.)
"Zaparozhets" and "Moskvich" are both out of business. "AvtoVAZ" (they make "Zhiguli" and "Lada") is still in business, but they just can't compete with the foreign brands. "Volga" also still exists, but they attract only a smaller segment of the population, because they're more expensive. And if people have the money for a new "Volga", they can probably afford a used "BMW" or "Mercedes", and so they'll go with the foreign brand, anyway.
"Skoda" from the Czech Republic is becoming extremely popular in Russia, but they are now owned by a Western auto firm (Chevrolet, maybe?).
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Post by pieter on Jun 3, 2006 6:14:34 GMT -7
I'm honestly amazed (unfortunately) that there is any Russian automotive industry at all. In European Russia, European (especially German) cars predominate, and in eastern Russia, it's almost all Japanese cars with the steering wheel on the wrong side. (A friend of mine in Vladivostok said it's almost impossible to find a Russian-made car in the city anymore.) "Zaparozhets" and "Moskvich" are both out of business. "AvtoVAZ" (they make "Zhiguli" and "Lada") is still in business, but they just can't compete with the foreign brands. "Volga" also still exists, but they attract only a smaller segment of the population, because they're more expensive. And if people have the money for a new "Volga", they can probably afford a used "BMW" or "Mercedes", and so they'll go with the foreign brand, anyway. "Skoda" from the Czech Republic is becoming extremely popular in Russia, but they are now owned by a Western auto firm (Chevrolet, maybe?). Eric interesting reply, Skoda is part of Volkswagen now and many parts of Skoda cars are the same as the Volkswagen cars, buit they are cheaper. Skoda has one of the most modern assembly lines in the world in Polish Poznan, I am sure they will built an ultra-modern procution line in Russia too, when Skoda (Volkswagen) is so popular there. I think the popularity of Skoda stems from Comecon times when Skoda made one of the best cars of the East-bloc countries. And Russians love just the German quility product like many other people in the world. That the East is driving in Japanese cars maybe has to do that they are close to Japan, so that it is cheap to transport them and the expertease is near. |
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Post by kaima on Jun 3, 2006 10:12:30 GMT -7
Scoda had a reputation for high quality before the war and held it through communism as well, though it was a unique experince the first time I drove one (1982).
I understand tehre is an industry in Japan taking the old cars and shipping them to Russian Pacific coast. It is probably like the West Germans cleaning up all their old cars and selling them in the east right after the Wall fell and the eastern markets opeened up. The romance and status of having a western car was too much to resist for many people. It was also very difficult competition for the local manufacturers as well.
Kai
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