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Four world automakers expected to invest in Russia soon
Russian Journal ^ | July 01, 2004

Posted on 7/5/2004, 5:47:31 PM by RussianConservative

YAROSLAVL - Four major automobile manufacturers from Germany and Japan are planning to start investing in Russia during the next two years, Russian Economy Minister German Gref told journalists yesterday. According to the minister, he has had several meetings with the management of four automobile concerns over the past 6 months. Two of these companies will start making investments this year, Gref specified.

Speaking about import taxes on used foreign cars the minister said that the government was not going to raise them. In this case Russian car producers "increase prices for their cars not the quality of their automobiles."

Gref pointed to the necessity to create normal investment conditions for attracting investments of world automobile manufacturers. "I do not see any possibility to improve the quality of Russia's Volga and Zhiguli cars to the level of Ford and Toyota. Billions will be spent for this purpose; as a result Russian cars will be 50 percent more expensive than similar foreign cars," the minister stressed.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; Russia
KEYWORDS: cars; russia; tariffs; trucks
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1 posted on 7/5/2004, 5:47:31 PM by RussianConservative
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To: RussianConservative

Guess 25% tarrif work after all...5 some major auto factories open in 4 years...Russians have more jobs, buy more Russian things, which spur more Russian industry and pay taxes (lowest in all major countries).


2 posted on 7/5/2004, 5:49:45 PM by RussianConservative (Xristos: the Light of the World)
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To: A. Pole; neutrino; Destro; Willie Green

Guess 25% tarrif work after all...5 some major auto factories open in 4 years...Russians have more jobs, buy more Russian things, which spur more Russian industry and pay taxes (lowest in all major countries).


3 posted on 7/5/2004, 5:50:09 PM by RussianConservative (Xristos: the Light of the World)
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To: RussianConservative
Do Russians like fast cars? Seems that y'all would be prime gearheads. I'd like to see what you'd come up with in the way of Muscle Cars like we used to.

Most of your weapons and aircraft are built SIMPLE, powerful, and reliable. I bet y'all could put together some pretty good sports cars.

I used to wonder what it'd be like to do a road trip across Russia in my machine. This is what she looks like...

Think it'd draw a few looks?

4 posted on 7/5/2004, 5:55:42 PM by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: Long Cut

The roads across country would destroy that car, you need a jeep of some sort...a SUV.


5 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:05:43 PM by RussianConservative (Xristos: the Light of the World)
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To: RussianConservative

That's too bad. I never liked SUV's...I prefer fast machines. Still, it might've been a hoot to cruise around Moscow or St. Petersburg in it.


6 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:07:44 PM by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: Long Cut

If you're looking to drive across Russia, read Jim Rogers' book about driving around the world (including Siberia) in a specially-designed Mercedes. Its a hoot. He's much more down on Russia than I am; the educational system (teachers are actually regarded as more intelligent than students!), the talents of the people, and the quick adaptation of the under-40s to the capitalist system combined with tremendous unexploited natural resources makes me hopeful it will one day be what it would have been but for the louses known as the Bolsheviks - one of the world's richest countries and a better friend to the US than most of the EU or Hollywood.


7 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:11:22 PM by laconic
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To: Long Cut

How would that do on local gasoline? Would it last 10,000 miles? That is average for pickup trucks at Prudhoe Bay.


8 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:13:37 PM by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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To: RussianConservative
Perhaps the most memorable quote I have ever read was uttered by the chairman of Mercedes (Daimler-Benz in those days) after he toured the factories that built the Trabant in what had been East Germany. He was on an inspection tour right after reunification - and he said "It is beneath human dignity that workers are employed to produce such products."  I'm sure that's true of the native auto industry in Russia today. No way to incrementally improve it - you have to start over.
9 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:19:41 PM by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: RightWhale
I don't know the particulars of the local gas in Russia. My SS can use 89 octane, but the manufacturer recommends 93 or better for the LS-1 engine in that configuration. It's rated at 100,000 miles between tune-ups, however.

I've driven the East coast north-south route a cople of times with no problems at all, however.

10 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:21:03 PM by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: RightWhale
Some shots with different American trucks on Russian roads.
11 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:21:57 PM by klpt
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To: RussianConservative
Guess 25% tarrif work after all...5 some major auto factories open in 4 years...

The global automotive cartel is dominated by only 5 companies: GM, Ford, DCX, VW and Toyota.
Together, these companies control a far greater share of the global automotive market than OPEC exerts over global petroleum.
Most other automotive companies are not independent, and are tied into one of the Big Five through an intricate web of investment ownership, partnerships and joint ventures. Once the Big Five have captured the Russian market, they will purchase your politicians and reconfifure your tax structure to their own advantage, NOT for the benefit of Russian taxpayers.

12 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:27:16 PM by Willie Green (Go Pat Go!!!)
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To: Long Cut
It's rated at 100,000 miles between tune-ups, however.

You better start saving up for that tuneup, if the distributor is down in front it is going to cost you $1,000.00. I just had the $1,000.00 tune up done on my Caprice, the shop had just finished one on a Corvette, the tiny screws that hold the rotor on, were rusted in, and twisted off, new distributor time, that tune up cost over $1,250.00.

13 posted on 7/5/2004, 6:57:02 PM by c-b 1
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To: c-b 1

Thanks for the tip. I already expected the platinum plugs to cost $$$ to replace. I'm only at 46,000 miles right now, so I'll check that distributor out now, just to be on the safe side.


14 posted on 7/5/2004, 7:28:09 PM by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: Willie Green
The global automotive cartel is dominated by only 5 companies:

Don't count out Honda and Renault. 2 German, 2 Japanese, 2 American, and 1 French.

15 posted on 7/5/2004, 7:36:59 PM by PAR35
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To: Long Cut

I just got back from Saint Petersburg. People there are CRAZY drivers! You risk life and limb just crossing street. They also drive on the sidewalks. SPb is plagued with massive traffic jams--oftentimes, it is faster to walk to your destination. Don't get me started on the crime problems there-- the city has moniker "the city of thieves" for a good reason.


16 posted on 7/5/2004, 7:38:57 PM by paix
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To: Willie Green

This is not so easy in parlimentary system where all representatives must vote with party...much harder to buy then American individual senators. Besides, tax base not that easy to change within Russian system where president have more power then US and in meantime it gives jobs and resources to russia and then power other support industries.


17 posted on 7/5/2004, 7:44:21 PM by RussianConservative (Xristos: the Light of the World)
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To: paix

No it is Rostov that is "City of Thieves", Petersburg is the City of White Nights.


18 posted on 7/5/2004, 7:48:45 PM by RussianConservative (Xristos: the Light of the World)
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To: RussianConservative; iamright; AM2000; Iscool; wku man; Lael; international american; No_Doll_i; ...
Thanks for the ping, RussianConservative!

It's important to note, as RussianConservative points out, that tariffs can and do work.

In this case, the Russian government is looking out for the strategic interests of Russia, and helping to build a strong economy - one that will benefit all Russians.

Here and now stands Russia as eloquent refutation of the free traitors' lies and distortions! Let's learn something from President Putin and end America's suicidal addiction to free traitin'.

If you want on or off my offshoring ping list, please FReepmail me!

19 posted on 7/5/2004, 8:51:09 PM by neutrino (Against stupidity the very Gods themselves contend in vain.)
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To: paix
They also drive on the sidewalks.

Perhaps they got some hints from Italian drivers.

20 posted on 7/5/2004, 10:04:09 PM by RightWhale (Destroy the dark; restore the light)
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