Business news

MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – The Belarusian automobile engineering company Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) intends to start the industrial production of a new modification of buses powered by natural gas. The new modification was presented during the 8^th international automobile transport festival Bus World in Kolomna, Russia, representatives of the Belarusian company told BelTA.

According to the source, the large-capacity gas-powered urban bus MAZ 103965 is a gas-fueled modification of the popular model MAZ 103. The new model was made in early May specifically for the bus expo and was recognized the best urban bus at the expo. The company will start testing and certifying the new model now. Industrial production may begin roughly six months later.

Presented during the Russian expo, the bus is powered by a Mercedes engine, which is compliant with the Euro 5 environmental standard, and uses an automatic gear box.

Held in the Russian city of Kolomna, the 8^th international automobile transport festival Bus World gathered over 120 companies from 19 countries that showcased a total of 80 buses. MAZ’s official dealer in Russia displayed three buses in Kolomna.

Minsk Automobile Plant was founded in 1944. In 2009 it was reincorporated into the public joint-stock company (OAO) MAZ. In 2012 OAO MAZ became the management company of the holding company BelavtoMAZ. The holding company comprises ten enterprises that employ about 30,000 people. The holding company makes truck tractors, high-sided trucks, medium-capacity automobiles, dump trucks, log trucks, short log trucks, cross-country vehicles, chassis fit for special equipment along with buses and trolleybuses. MAZ offers over 500 models and modifications of trucks and about 20 models of passenger vehicles. MAZ’s first gas-powered bus was demonstrated during the international expo Comtrans 2013 in Moscow in September 2013. Since then the models have been certified and are now made in batches.