The multi-brand plant Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan (AMMKZ) has produced its first batch of Chery, Changan, and Haval vehicles, reports a Kazpravda.kz correspondent

The multi-brand plant Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan has begun operations. In connection with this, Astana Motors is announcing price reductions for vehicles manufactured at the plant.

Currently, all equipment at the plant has been fully installed and commissioned. The plant has completed commissioning and received the first batch of components for the production of Chery, Changan, and Haval vehicles.

Astana Motors founder Nurlan Smagulov noted that localizing production will make the vehicles more affordable: starting September 16, prices for Chery, Changan, and Haval models will be reduced.

“As part of the agreement with the government on industrial assembly, the plant has committed to ensuring that 30% of production is carried out using the completely knocked-down (CKD) method, which involves welding and painting. Localizing vehicle production reduces their cost. Accordingly, as responsible entrepreneurs, we are reducing prices for the aforementioned vehicles by 7–15%, depending on the model,” emphasized Nurlan Smagulov.

Official distributors of Chery, Changan, and Haval in Kazakhstan will provide more details on the new vehicle prices in the near future. All these brands, like the plant, are part of Astana Motors.

As a reminder, Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan has a production capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year. The production area is 211,000 square meters, and the land plot covers 309,000 square meters. The number of jobs when the plant reaches full capacity is 3,600. Currently, 1,700 people are employed.

The production complex features robotic and automated welding, painting, and assembly shops; component warehouses; an automated body distribution warehouse; a weighing station; a test track; warehouses for paint and coatings and finished products; utility networks; an administrative and amenity building; and other facilities.

A total of 54 robots are in operation at the multi-brand plant. The welding shop is equipped with 17 Japanese Fanuc robots, which ensure high precision and consistent quality in the joining of body components. The paint shop employs 34 industrial robots and spray guns manufactured by ABB (Sweden-Switzerland). The cataphoresis line has 20 tanks. This allows for the processing and application of anti-corrosion coatings to car bodies at the highest technological level.

Three Fanuc robots operate in the assembly shop, performing tasks to apply adhesive to the vehicle’s glazing components along a pre-programmed trajectory. The robots are designed to ensure the quality and consistency of the assembly process.

The key equipment supplier for the plant is Automotive Engineering Corporation (PRC), a leading manufacturer of equipment for global automotive giants such as BMW, Hyundai, Toyota, Jaguar, Land Rover, BYD, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and others.

The plant also features equipment from global brands such as ABB (Sweden-Switzerland), BOSH (Germany), Fanuc (Japan), Obara (South Korea), Schneider (France), Siemens (Germany), and others.

The head of state, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, launched the construction of the multi-brand plant during a working visit to Almaty in November 2022.

Technical and licensing agreements (TLAs) were signed in May 2023 during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to China, at a roundtable with representatives of the Chinese business community in Xi’an.

The total investment in the project exceeded 202 billion tenge. Of this amount, 37% is financed by Astana Motors’ own funds, and 63% by repayable borrowed funds raised through credit instruments from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan and the Industry Development Fund at an annual interest rate of 9% for a term of 15 years. The project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Almaty City Administration.