GAZ Begins Pajero Frame Production

Russian truck maker GAZ launches output of Mitsubishi Pajero Sport frames at its sprawling manufacturing complex in Nizhny Novgorod.

GAZ welds the frames and applies anticorrosion coating before shipping them to PCMA Rus, a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi that assembles the Pajero Sport cross/utility vehicle in Kaluga, Russia.

In order to take on the contract, signed in December 2012, GAZ installed a new welding and phosphate treatment line, plus modernized its existing electrophoresis operation. Welding jigs and testing equipment was provided by Mitsubishi.

The project has added 85 jobs at OJSC GAZ, the truck maker’s automotive component arm.

“Launch of the frame production…speaks of the high level of competence at OJSC GAZ in automotive component production and is a milestone in automotive cluster development in the Nizhny Novgorod Region,” says GAZ Group President Bo Andersson.

“We will continue developing the automotive component business and strengthen our competences in order to develop the GAZ Group model range and localized automotive component production in Russia.”