!NEW! Opel Corsa to start building in Belarus in 2014

New agreement between Opel and producer UNISON to set up an assembly

Opel will start building Corsas in Belarus in 2014

Opel will start building Corsas in Belarus in 2014. A framework agreement was signed today between James Bovenzi, GM Russia and CIS President and Managing Director, and Dmitry Egorov, Director General of JV UNISON JSC. The assembly will happen at the UNISON facilities in Belarus. The produced automobiles will be sold in the markets of the Russian Customs Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan).

„We are now producing Corsas in Belarus according to our guiding principle – build where we sell. On top of that the delivery of assembly kits to an expanding market means more business for our facilities in Eisenach and Zaragoza”, says Opel Vice President Manufacturing Europe, Peter Thom, being pleased about the agreement with UNISON.

All Opel Corsa versions offered in the Russian market today are planned for production. OPC – being still imported from Western Europe – will be the only exception. British-Belarusian company UNISON with the help of Opel professionals will purchase, assemble and set up all the necessary equipment to start assembly of the new model, as well as will train the personnel on global GM production and strict quality control guidelines. The Corsa will be delivered as so called SKD-kits (Semi Knocked Down) coming from the Opel works in Eisenach/Germany (three-door) and Zaragoza/Spain (five-door) to be completed in Belarus. The plan is to assemble 7000 units in the first year of production.

“We are happy to start cooperation with UNISON recognizing their many years of assembly expertise, professional personnel and perfect positioning in terms of parts supply from Europe and finished products logistics to the Customs Union markets”, says GM Russia and CIS President and Managing Director James Bovenzi.

And Alexey V. Vaganov, UNISON JSC chairman of supervisory board, adds: “We would like to thank the company for choosing our plant as a partner to produce Opel Corsa. The agreement valid through 2017 provides the possibility to enhance the lineup.”