Background

AVTOVAZ is Russia's largest and one of the major European car manufacturers. The available production capacities allow AVTOVAZ to manufacture around 800 thousand cars and car components annually.

In June 2013 AVTOVAZ presented its promising car project – LADA Granta CNG – at the exhibition in Novosibirsk. This car runs on two types of fuel – compressed natural gas and gasoline. The combined engine of the car enables it to run over 900 kilometers without refills. AVTOVAZ is currently testing pilot samples of this model.

GAZ Group Managing Company is the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Russia, producing light and medium duty commercial vehicles, buses, heavy duty trucks, automobiles and power packs. The company comprises 13 plants in eight Russian regions.

GAZ Group is the leading Russian manufacturer of gas-powered vehicles: since 2006 the company has been producing LIAZ buses with engines running on compressed gas, since 2010 – GAZel BUSINESS with engines running on liquefied gas, since 2011 – low-floor LIAZ buses running on compressed gas. From 2013 PAZ and KAVZ gas-fired buses will be manufactured. In addition, together with Westport – a global leader in natural gas engines, GAZ Group is currently developing and organizing the production of diesel engines running on CNG for commercial vehicles.

Kirov Plant is one of the largest industrials in Northwestern Russia mainly focused on machine building. The company specializes in agricultural and industrial tractors as well as special-purpose vehicles.

In order to improve the efficiency of Gazprom's strategy for the NGV market development, a special-purpose company – Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo – was set up. The company consolidates Gazprom's relevant core assets.

Earlier, Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo signed several Agreements of Cooperation with the following major manufacturers and distributors of motor vehicles: KAMAZ, VOLGABUS, MAN Truck & Bus Rus, Iveco Russia and STORK.